Jagdeep: You can kick us out - but get your facts right

The right of local NGOs to kick out the state government, which they blame for the deadly landslide that killed 11 workers in Tanjung Bungah last Saturday, does not have any objection from Penang state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo.

Jagdeep said certain quarters that are asserting their rights were “exploiting” the tragic construction site accident that took the lives of one Malaysian and 10 foreign workers.

“However, kindly get your facts right and do not distort the truth,” Jagdeep said at a press conference today.

“We do not deny that there was a landslide at the construction site. Yet, certain parties have tried to overlook or even deny that it is a construction site accident.

“The implication that the project was built on hillslope is untrue. The affordable housing scheme was built on flat land, and this was confirmed by the Institute of Engineers Malaysia,” he stressed.

Jagdeep was responding to NGOs, such as Sabahat Alam Malaysia, which have threatened to pull out support for the Penang government led by Pakatan Harapan in the coming 14th general election.

SAM said it has gone to town with environmental campaigns that led to the late former chief minister, Dr Lim Chong Eu, being ousted from his seat in 1990, as well as resulting in the Gerakan-led administration losing the state in 2008.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has insisted that the tragedy was a worksite accident, and has called for a State Commission of Inquiry to be formed to investigate the matter in detail.

Jagdeep said the construction worksite accident was an important work safety issue for the families of those who died in the landslide.

“To deny or ignore this as a worksite accident will have legal consequences in terms of financial culpability and responsibility for the 11 workers who died,” said Jagdeep, who is also the Dato Keramat assemblyperson.

He expressed hope that the State Commission of Inquiry would determine whether the project involving 980 housing units was on flat land or on a hillslope as alleged, as well as other matters, including the approval for the project by the Penang Island City Council.

The commission will be formed under the Commission of Enquiry Act 1950 to investigate the cause of the construction site tragedy.

“We hope the findings of the Commission of Inquiry will lead to those responsible being punished as well as to investigate any ancillary matters relating to the project,” Jagdeep added.

- Mkini