SIBU: The row of eight shophouses in Jalan Pahlawan that collapsed on Feb 19 this year will be demolished next month.
The demolition is expected to take up to three months.
“We will begin the demolition next month, but we are still in the process of appointing a competent contractor because we do not want the surrounding buildings to be affected,” the legal team representing the eight owners told a press conference on Wednesday (Aug 5).
The legal team comprises Boston Ho, Alexander Ling and Sii Yew Nei.
They also explained why the owners had delayed the demolition despite receiving notices from the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC).
SMC first issued a notice on Feb 19 requiring the owners to appoint qualified professionals, submit a structural assessment report, and undertake the necessary remedial or demolition works.
A final reminder was subsequently issued on July 27, requesting the relevant professional report and proposed course of action.
The lawyers said the owners understood and respected SMC’s responsibility to safeguard public safety and thanked the council for granting Geospec access to the site and allowing sufficient time for its investigation.
However, they said demolition could not commence immediately after the notices were issued because the buildings, foundations and piles remained crucial physical evidence in the ongoing investigation into the cause of the collapse.
“Premature demolition could destroy evidence needed to determine why the entire row of shophouses suffered such a serious structural failure,” they said.
According to the legal team, the owners appointed Geospec at their own expense in March 2026 to carry out an independent structural, geotechnical and subsurface investigation.
Geospec has identified issues relating to the surrounding ground conditions and possible external ground movement that require further investigation. However, the investigation has yet to be completed.
They explained that the investigation is being conducted in two stages.
The first stage involved non-destructive investigations, including site inspections, structural documentation, ground and subsurface investigations, monitoring and engineering analysis. These works had to be completed before demolition because premature demolition could destroy vital physical evidence.
The second stage will be carried out during the controlled demolition. Once selected sections of the structure and foundations are safely exposed, Geospec will examine, sample and test selected piles, beams, columns and slabs.
The lawyers said this explained why demolition had not commenced earlier and why the technical investigation remained ongoing.
They added that they had formally requested SMC to provide relevant technical and historical records relating to the original development and piling works, as well as road, car park, drainage, land-filling, repair and maintenance works carried out in the adjoining areas over the years.
The records are required to enable Geospec to compare its site findings with historical works and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the possible causes of the collapse.
However, they said the case was exceptionally rare and complex, and closer cooperation between SMC, the Sarawak government, the owners and Geospec would be essential moving forward.
“The outcome of the investigation is important not only to the owners but also to the wider public, particularly property owners and residents in the Jalan Pahlawan and Sungai Merah areas,” they said.
The owners intend to proceed with a controlled demolition coordinated with Geospec to ensure the remaining structural and foundation evidence is properly preserved and examined.
The lawyers said they would soon submit a formal proposal to the Sarawak government and the relevant authorities. The proposal will be addressed to the State Secretary, the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, SMC and other relevant agencies.
The proposal seeks four forms of assistance. Firstly, that the State government and SMC would undertake and fund the necessary investigation, engineering, rectification and reconstruction of the adjoining public road, car park, drains and related public infrastructure situated on State land and under public control.
Secondly, that the State government would assist the owners in securing a special rebuilding and recovery financing package through suitable financial institutions, including AFFIN Bank, the Development Bank of Sarawak or other appropriate lenders.
Thirdly, they proposed establishing a dedicated inter-agency task force or one-stop mechanism to coordinate and expedite the planning, land, building, infrastructure, safety and occupancy approvals required for rebuilding without compromising technical or legal requirements.
Finally, they requested that the appointment of professional consultants, demolition contractors and rebuilding contractors remain at the owners’ discretion, subject to the relevant authorities’ approvals and regulatory requirements. The owners will ensure that those appointed are suitably qualified, insured and experienced.
The lawyers stressed that the owners were not seeking an unconditional cash payment or asking the government to accept legal liability before the investigation had been completed.
“These are practical, lawful and reasonable proposals to help the owners safely demolish, finance and rebuild their properties following an extraordinary disaster,” they said.
They added that the owners reserved all their legal rights and would consider appropriate legal action if the completed investigation identified, through sufficient evidence, any external cause or responsible party.
“For now, the priorities are to complete the investigation, obtain the relevant records, preserve the remaining evidence, carry out a safe and controlled demolition, and establish a realistic pathway for rebuilding,” they said.
