In what was supposed to be a night of merriment and revelry to herald in the New Year 2017, it is unfathomable and incomprehensible that the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) could actually launch fireworks during the Fiesta Gegar Klang 2016 Carnival despite not obtaining a police permit to do so, much less even bothering to apply for a permit.

Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed has informed that organisers planning a fireworks show must sent in a request to the Home Ministry seven days prior to the event. Hence, there was ample time to apply for a permit. Yet, how could MPK ignore this requirement despite a reasonable and sufficient timeframe provided? This is sheer incompetence.

One would expect a local council as policy makers under a state government to be law-abiding and not law-breaking especially when dealing with fireworks which are explosives. MPK should have secured the necessary permission, testing and advice involving the fireworks show.

The organisers should have taken heed from the Formosan Fun Coast fireball explosion in Taiwan on June 27, 2015 and more recently, the fireworks explosion at San Pablito market in Mexico on Dec 20, 2016 by ensuring that all safety precautionary measures were not taken lightly but must be checked by police personnel to prevent any possible injuries or fatalities.

The lives of the members of the public are stake, more so, when parents and school children are preparing for the new school year. It is common sense that for any large-scale event like this when there is a New Year countdown, the masses will gather to partake in the celebrations.

Strange lethargy from the Pakatan Selangor state gov’t

Equally surprising is that DAP’s Pandamaran state assemblyperson Tan Pok Shyong has not been reported to have issued any statements on the fireworks explosion, much less tended to the victims. Likewise with DAP Klang MP Charles Santiago, the public would expect him and Pok Shyong to arrange with the Selangor state government as to what form of aid may be channelled to the victims since it is the Pakatan coalition which rules Selangor state.

In such a disaster, one would expect the Menteri Besar Azmin Ali to have immediately ordered an investigation and visited the victims. But still no such news.

While MPK has announced that it will bear the expenses of the 14 victims who required hospital treatment, such a move should not absolve the local council from public liability to the victims.

The Selangor state government owes Pandamaran residents and guests gathered an explanation. In the name of transparency, the fireworks supplier and event organiser must be named, blacklisted and even charged in court if they did not comply with the Explosives Act.

TEE HOOI LING is Kland division MCA Youth Klang chairperson and MCA Youth deputy secretary-general.