JOHOR BARU: The number of construction sites slapped with stop-work orders since June 1 for not following the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) has increased to 171, says the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).

       Of the 171 sites ordered closed, Sarawak had the highest number with 53 sites followed by Selangor (34), Melaka (12), Sabah (11), Penang (10), Johor (9), Kuala Lumpur 8, Perak (7), Negri Sembilan (7), Terengganu (6) and Pahang (6).

       Kedah and Perlis each had three sites ordered closed while Kelantan had two, it said in a statement on Monday (June 28).

       CIDB added that 28 sites had since been allowed to re-open after implementing the SOP.

       The sites are in Melaka (7), Sarawak (7), Selangor (6), Terengganu (4), Johor (2), one each in Kuala Lumpur and Kedah.

       On June 22, CIDB shut down 150 construction sites nationwide for failing to follow the Covid-19 SOP.

       It added that two construction sites in Kuala Lumpur and Seremban were ordered to cease operations immediately on Monday (June 28) for not adhering to the SOP.

       “The construction site in Kuala Lumpur was found to have more than the 60% workers capacity while the contractor did not provide transportation for the workers.

       “Checks at the construction site in Seremban found that the working scope at the site was against the approval given by the International Trade and Industry Ministry.

       “The site also did not obtain the approval from the local council or from the Labour Department to build a workers dormitory.

       “The workers at the site were more than the 60% allowed while it’s dormitory was not registered with the MySejahtera app,” it added.

       CIDB also said that it has carried out checks on 3,249 construction sites nationwide since the start of the current lockdown and about 2,620 of the sites were not operational.