Penang development must go on

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has no plans to halt or review hillslope infrastructure projects despite yesterday's landslide at the Bukit Kukus.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that they have been successful.

He said that the projects have been developed in an environmentally-sensitive area.

He added that there was sufficient legislation to govern the development of the challenge and the implementation stage.

"So, I think we are looking at our consultants to address issues, and safety issues at construction sites, development has to continue.

"And he said, he said, he said," He said that when he asked the question, he said that he would not be able to do anything.

Chow said, as for the case of Paya Terubong, the state government would ensure that the project would only give back the green light.

He added that the Penang Island City Council, as the project owner, would be better off.

Chow said the first incident (referring to last year's landslide in Tanjung Bungah) was unfortunate as it could have been avoided.

"It was workplace negligence. But he added, "The second incident can be monitored if the engineers are on site to the slope and to the standards of the standards," he added.

Meanwhile, Chow expressed hope that it would recognize the fact and allow mitigation and stabilization work to be done at Bukit Kukus even though a stop-work order has been issued.

"This is to ensure the situation will not be aggravated. Even though a stop-work order had been imposed, it should be allowed to be safely secured, "he noted.

Asked it a special committee of inquiry to investigate the latest landslide incident, Chow said:

"I think from visual inspection, it was related to slope and rainfall.

"An inquiry may not be necessary but we will discuss it. It is a lengthy process, which takes a whole year.

"In this case, the contractor and engineers responsible have come out with a report on the incident," he said.

It was reported that two people were killed, one rescued and one of the others left a major landslide hit their kongsi homes about 1.50pm yesterday.

The Fire and Rescue of the United States is coming back from the rubble.

Police also confirmed that they had been treated at the Penang Hospital.

Tanjung Bungah landslide on Oct 21 last year.

The landslide then claimed 11 lives, including that of the sole Malaysian site supervise. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd