PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Institution of Engineers suggests the setting up of a new centralised federal agency called Agency for Control of Developments with Slopes (ACDS) as a measure to minimise tragedies.

“The institution feels that every time there is a tragedy, lots of investigation are conducted. Certain things need to be done so that such tragedies can be avoided to a bare minimum,” said institute president Prof Datuk Dr Chuah Hean Teik yesterday.

Dr Chuah suggested that the Government form the ACDS with regulatory role. It should not be placed in private hands, and it should investigate as well as advise local authorities on approval and safety control of all development projects.

“The agency should also monitor and track the implementation of mandatory maintenance procedures and programmes,” he said, adding the agency could be placed under the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Dr Chuah added that any qualified person who undertook the review of design documents for slope stability and slope drainage works prepared by the submitting engineer shall after certification, be required to continue to audit their construction for compliance and upon completion of construction, endorse the as-built records.

“All completed developments located on or adjoining slope sites of Class 3 and Class 4 slopes should be urgently assessed by qualified persons,” he added.

Meanwhile, Wanita Gerakan secretary-general B. Jayanthi Devi said the Government should make it a norm to declassify findings of investigations into incidents that caused death and injuries, as well as wastage of huge taxpayer’s money.

“Don’t wait till you are pressured or have protests from the people and then declassify the documents. We should not keep the public in the dark, especially when public interest is at stake,” she said in a press statement yesterday.

Jayanthi, also a resident of Bukit Antarabangsa added that action should be taken against persons responsible for the Bukit Antarabangsa