Ceiling collapses at Johor's Syariah Court complex

The Straits Times, June 6, 2007


UNDER INVESTIGATION: The Public Works Department is still investigating what caused the ceiling and lamps to collapse over the weekend.











JOHOR BARU - NINE ceiling panels and several lamps fell at the Syariah Court complex in Johor over the weekend.

The collapse of the panels and lamps on the fifth floor of the RM27 million (S$12 million) complex damaged office furniture and computers.

Staff who were affected by the incident were able to return to work only two hours later. Nobody was injured.

The contractor responsible for work done on the ceiling was called in to clear the debris and carry out repairs under the supervision of the Johor Public Works Department (PWD).

TV3 reported Works Minister Datuk Seri Samy Vellu as saying that the contractor will be banned from working on any PWD projects for one or two years.

State Public Works and Housing Committee chairman Datuk Baderi Dasuki said that the PWD was investigating the cause of the collapse, which was possibly due to strong winds blowing into the office through open windows.

'We believe the collapse had occurred over the weekend as there were strong winds blowing through the city,' he said. 'The wind might have exerted pressure on the ceiling and caused it to detach and collapse.'

The complex, located beside the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Jalan Skudai, was completed in 2005 and started operations early this year.

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