He is believed to have run away from the construction site immediately after the accident at 7.15pm in Jalan Raja Chulan.

The hook fell on a Perodua Kelisa from 20 storeys up, killing the driver, Joice Chin Khoon Sing, 24, on the spot. The car was stuck in a traffic jam at the time.

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) told Star Online it was working with the police to track down the operator.

DOSH said the construction company and the firm supplying the crane were not able to confirm if the crane operator is a Malaysian — a requirement under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.

DOSH Director-General Mohtar Musri said construction at the tower project had been stopped.

“We are trying to establish which party is directly responsible for the accident.”

Mohtar said DOSH wanted to establish whether the crane operator had undergone proper training.

DOSH believes the crane hook may have fallen after a rope or wire supporting it snapped and the hook fell onto the road.

“There is a hoarding surrounding the building and the crane is not supposed to operate outside the hoarding.

“But the part that fell was outside the hoarding. It was on top of the road.”

Mohtar told the news portal the parties found guilty could face a two-year jail sentence, and up to RM250,000 fines or both under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and the Factories and Machinery Act 1967.

Meanwhile, family members carried out a 15-minute religious ritual at the spot of the accident this afternoon.

Khoon Sing’s brothers, Khoon Ying, 26, and Khoon Feng, were guided by a female Taoist priest to carry out the prayers about 4pm.

Dressed in white, the brothers carried incense sticks. Khoon Ying placed a shirt, believed to have belonged to Khoon Sing, over the spot where her Perodua Kelisa was crashed.

Khoon Sing’s remains will be taken to George Town for the funeral. She was working as an administrative executive in Puchong and was killed just a week before her 24th birthday.