Workers setting up a temporary barrier at Block A of the Sri Desa Entrepreneurs Park. The area has been barricaded with yellow tape to prevent unauthorised entry. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
BLOCK A of the Sri Desa Entrepreneurs Park in Kuchai Lama, Kuala Lumpur, that was cordoned off after a beam collapsed and crushed 10 vehicles last month, is now partially open.
Owners and tenants operating at the ground floor, Level 1 and Level 2 of the block with 45 units can now return to work.
However, offices on the 4th and 5th floors are still off limits.
ALSO READ : Construction flaws may have caused beam collapse in Sri Desa Entrepreneurs Park, says DBKL
Block A building manager Emily Sim when met at the site said that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had given them the green light to open the ground floor and levels 1 and 2.
Sim showing the list of dos and don’ts issued by DBKL to business owners and tenants of Sri Desa Entrepreneurs Park in Kuchai Lama.
“We are thankful that DBKL has allowed our tenants on the ground floor and the two floors above to operate.
“We have five restaurants operating on the ground floor that have been out of business for weeks and everyone is ready to resume work,’’ Sim said.
She, however, added that DBKL had issued a standard operating procedure for the tenants and owners with a list of dos and don’ts that must be followed.
Among the requirements is that access and egress to the first and second floors is only allowed via the emergency staircase.
Access and egress to the Management Corporation (MC) office and Lot A-26-1 is via the staircase next to the lift.
StarMetro article on Aug 18, 2023“The corridors on the first and second floors of Block A are off limits. All those resuming their business at the non-restricted area must furnish a letter of undertaking and indemnity to the MC before resuming business and entering the building.”
Sim added that the companies and restaurants must adhere to restricted business hours.
When StarMetro visited the block yesterday morning, contractors were at the site putting up a temporary barrier at the back of Block A to separate it from the Block C entrance.
The entire area was barricaded with a police yellow tape, with banners and signage warning people not to trespass into the site.
Rela officers were also on standby watching over the site.
ALSO READ : Consultant appointed to assess damaged block at Sri Desa Entrepreneurs Park
Nine of the 10 vehicles that were crushed when the beam fell were still at the site.
“DBKL and the insurance companies refuse to allow the owners to remove the damaged cars as it is still not safe to enter the site. We are afraid that something might happen during the removal,’’ Sim said.
She added that the actual repairs will take time as they have to call for tender and get a quotation.
It was previously reported that DBKL had asked the Public Works Institute of Malaysia (Ikram) to submit its report.
The building’s MC had also been instructed to hire a consultant to submit a civil and structural investigation report.
In the Aug 15 incident, a beam from an upper floor of the five-storey commercial block fell at 10.40pm, crushing 10 vehicles parked at the ground level.
No one was hurt in the incident.
