SINGAPORE — The lift at a Housing and Development Board block in Ang Mo Kio which reportedly shot up 17 floors on Monday was last checked during a monthly inspection on Feb 23, said an Ang Mo Kio Town Council (AMKTC) spokesperson yesterday.

Noting that the incident was a first of this nature for this block and lift, the spokesperson said all lifts are checked once a month by the town council’s elevator maintenance company.

“In addition, our lift team and proper officers carry out daily checks on the estates, which also include the lifts,” he added.

The incident left a domestic helper trapped in the lift for about 90 minutes. Yesterday, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said it has suspended the use of the lift for further investigation.

BCA engineers have visited the site to investigate the incident, said its spokesman. AMKTC is also required to appoint an independent Authorised Examiner to inspect the lift, recommend rectification works and submit the findings to BCA.

The BCA said the lift will resume operation only when the investigation and rectification works are completed and the lift is certified safe for use.

The AMKTC said notices have been put up at the lift lobbies and distributed to residents in the block. The town council staff have also visited the family and the domestic helper to check on her well-being.

“Our priority and concern has been ensuring proper service is done to reduce or minimise breakdowns and improve the lift performance,” said the spokesperson.

AMKTC chairman Ang Hin Kee, who is also Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC, stressed that their primary concern was to “reassure residents that the appropriate (parties) are looking into the matter, as well as making regular visits to ensure the still-functioning lift is operating normally”.

They would also be concurrently checking old records of the lift maintenance regime to determine if proper inspections were done, and conduct additional checks of all lifts of the same type in the estate, he added.