GEORGE TOWN: The family of rice seller Lim Chin Aik, who was lost following the collapse of a concrete structure from atop the 21-storey Menara Umno here last week, has failed to obtain his death certificate, eight days after his disappearance.

The family's spokesperson Roy Tan today said they are extremely distraught at the latest turn of events as they had wanted to finalise funeral proceedings and place a symbolic urn in a temple columbarium.

The certificate may also be needed for insurance purposes and other vital financial and administrative needs of the family.

"We are in grief over the tragedy. And now we are even more troubled," he said after a meeting with a representative of the National Registration Department and George Town OCPD Gan Kong Meng earlier today.

A 38m vertical concrete beam and a 58m metallic pole that was attached to it collapsed from Menara Umno on June 13, leaving a deep crater on MacAlister Road.

CCTV recording has shown that the objects fell on the driver's section of Lim's car which was passing by the building at that time.

His wife, Lee Song Chai, had lodged a missing person's report.

However, as the driver's section was pinned too far down under the beam which had penetrated deep into the ground, and further excavation was feared to affect stability of surrounding buildings, the search and retrieval of his body was called off.

The falling materials had also led to the death of Indian national Jahir Hussain Sulaiman who was in a lorry.

During a visit to the site on June 17, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a probe would be carried out by the police until June 20.

He said the probe's result would be sent to him so he can direct the National Registration Department to issue a death certificate on June 21.

Gan had told reporters that once the probe is completed, the police would apply for an inquest from the Attorney-General's Chambers.

He noted that certificate is necessary for insurance claims as parts of the vehicle that was discovered were confirmed as belonging to the victim.

However, Roy Tan was told today that a death certificate can only be issued after the legal procedures including the inquest and a judgment.

He said he had been handed a police letter signed by Gan which noted evidence pointing to Lim having been in the car and that efforts to recover his body have failed.

Tan said this during a meeting with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at Guan Eng's office in Komtar here. Also present was Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo.

Under Section 108 of the Evidence Act 1950, a person may only be presumed to be dead after he has not been heard of for seven years "by those who would naturally have heard of him if he had been alive".

Earlier, Guan Eng announced that Gobind would hold a watching brief for families of victims who lost their lives during the state’s commission of inquiry on the Menara Umno tragedy and the collapse of a ramp linked to the Second Penang Bridge, which took one life, on June 6.

He said the commission would include Penang Appeal Board chairman Datuk Yeo Yang Poh, who is a former Bar Council president. The other members will be announced later.

The commission would be tasked to determine the cause of the tragedies and whether relevant measures were complied with in the making of the structures.

It would also recommend punishment, if necessary, and suggest preventive measures for the future, Guan Eng said.