It said all parties concerned, including Putrajaya, must be accountable for the deaths, and not shrug off their commitment towards ensuring occupational health and safety.
“Suhakam observes that while engaged in hazardous work in the construction industry, workers who face high rates of injury and death have little assurance that their employers will cover their medical needs,” its chairman Razali Ismail said in a statement issued in response to the tragedy that claimed 11 lives, mostly foreign workers.
Razali said the tragic deaths also brought forth serious questions about safety measures at construction sites in the country.
“From complaints lodged with us, Suhakam has found that construction and low-skilled migrant workers are among the most vulnerable to exploitation and abuse due to irresponsible and/or negligent labour practices, as well as indifference of various parties that result in migrant workers being badly treated.”
The human rights body expressed anger and sadness over what it said was an avoidable landslide at the Tanjung Bungah construction site.
“Suhakam is perplexed that despite the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’s rejection of the application for the construction, the development progressed, and this calls into question government enforcement procedures and inspection.
“Such deficiency of oversight indicates an absence of appropriate enforcement of occupational health and safety standards, among others, which may directly account for the deaths and injuries,” it said.
Suhakam called on the developers, the government and responsible parties to make available all risk assessments undertaken in relation to the development.
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