KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 — Senior Minister of Works Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has ordered an immediate stop to construction and maintenance works at the Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) near Puncak Banyan, Persiaran Alam Damai, Cheras, here following a crane collapsing incident at the location this morning.

He said the stop-work order was issued to enable investigation to be carried out on the incident in which a crane tipped over and crushed a car at construction site.

"I understand the mishap occurred during maintenance works and the area has been sealed off until the investigation is completed.

"I have also ordered construction works to be halted except for rescue effort which is expected to be completed by midnight,” he told reporters while visiting the incident location here today.

Apart from that, Fadillah said the project developer has also been ordered to find an alternative route for the residents of a nearby apartment which has its access road closed due to the incident.

Fadillah said at the moment, various agencies including the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), the Malaysian Highway Authority and the Fire and Rescue Department are evaluating new safety proposals before allowing construction work to proceed at the location concerned.

"I have ordered the safety section of the developer and contractor to provide more safety measures and they would be studied by the agencies responsible,” he said.

"Initial investigations found the contractor of the SUKE Elevated Expressway in the area had complied with the stipulated standard operating procedure,” he said.    

Today, three individuals were killed in the incident when a launcher crane fell in the construction site of SUKE near Puncak Banyan, Persiaran Alam Damai, Cheras, this morning. — Bernama