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Monday November 2, 2009

Perak PR to probe bridge tragedy

By IVAN LOH


IPOH: Perak Pakatan Rakyat has set up its own committee to investigate the Kuala Dipang bridge collapse that claimed three young lives.

Ousted State Speaker V. Sivakumar, who leads the ad hoc investigation team, said input by a third party was needed to ensure that the victims’ families were given a fair report of the tragedy.

“It is unjust to have the Education Ministry investigate the matter as it is the party in question,” he told reporters yesterday.

Last Monday night, 22 pupils attending a 1Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang, fell into the Kampar River while crossing the bridge.

N. Dina Deve and M. Devatharshini, both 11, and 12-year-old V. Divyashree, died in the disaster.

Sivakumar said the committee would conduct its own investigation with the help of a panel of experts which included land surveyors, engineers and lawyers.

Also on the committee are Teja assemblyman Chang Lih Kang, Thomas Su (Pasir Pinji) and Dr Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah (Titi Serong).

“We will have the report ready in two weeks,” he said.

Chang said he hoped the various government departments would cooperate with the committee in its aim to seek the truth.

Calling on Barisan Nasional to set aside their differences, he said Pakatan was investigating the tragedy on compassionate grounds and not to gain political mileage.

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