HEAVY MACHINERIES LED TO BUILDING COLLAPSE

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), May 29 (Bernama) -- Initial investigation found
that overloading of heavy machineries used in demolishing the former Jaya
Supermarket building was behind its collapse.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Lajim Ukim said eight heavy
machineries were in the building when the incident occurred.

"The investigation does not discount that more heavy machineries were in the
building," he told reporters when met at the site here Thursday night.

Lajim said the contractor involved in the demolition job has to meet several
conditions including the number of heavy machineries used.

The Fire and Rescue team and contractor were investigating to find the cause
of the collapse.

Up to midnight, two of the nine workers trapped in the building had died
while seven others were still trapped.

Lajim who arrived at 9.30pm took a 100 metre skylift to have a closer look
at the collapsed building.

"Firemen are using dogs and search cameras to locate the trapped workers,"
he said.

Works Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor who was also preent said the Public Works
Department (JKR) was providing equipments needed for the search and rescue
operation.

He said although the building was privately owned, Selangor JKR was happy to
help out and find out what caused the collapse.

"The JKR forensic team can help find out what caused the collapse."

Shaziman said the incident should serve as a lesson to others to prevent a
repeat.

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said the State Economic Action
Committee would be meeting tomorrow to get the latest information.

It would be attended by the Petaling Jaya mayor and engineers.

"Our focus now is on the search and rescue operation," he said after a visit
to the site Thursday night.
--BERNAMA