KUCHING: Special Assistant to MP Stampin, Michael, has called Kuching South City Council (MBKS) to be held accountable for what he described as serious safety lapses following a recent accident at the Kuching Festival grounds.
Referring to the statement by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Kong highlighted that the tagada ride involved in the incident was required to obtain a Certificate of Fitness under the Guidelines on the Safety Management of Amusement Park Devices (2008).
However, DOSH revealed that no application had been submitted by the amusement park operator, a violation under the Occupational Safety and Health (Machinery Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024.
“How was this ride allowed to operate on MBKS grounds, during an event organised by MBKS, without any proof of compliance with the mandatory safety requirements?” Kong questioned.
He stressed that MBKS, as the event organiser and the authority overseeing the venue, has both a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that every ride is properly certified as safe before being opened to the public. He added that this responsibility should not be deflected or downplayed as merely a matter of “crowd control”.
“The safety of festival-goers must never be compromised. MBKS must take full responsibility for these lapses, tighten its vetting process for all vendors, and ensure full compliance with safety laws before allowing any attractions to operate,” he said.
By Connie Chieng