Noh dares Kit Siang to tell son to resign over landslide

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar wants DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang to tell his son, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, to resign over the deadly landslide which occurred in Tanjung Bungah on Saturday.

During a press conference in Parliament today, Noh said the Penang government does not follow his ministry's guidelines for hillslope development as it has its own, namely the Safety Guideline for Hillslope Development.

Asked whether the tragedy could have been prevented if the Penang state government had followed his ministry's guidelines, Noh, however, stopped short of saying as much.

"I won't say that, Penang says its guidelines are more detailed, maybe it is.

"Their guidelines have more details and are based on the geography of an island."

Although he claimed that he did not want to politicise the matter, Noh nevertheless lashed out at the opposition for "politicising tragedies."

"When the tahfiz fire occurred, Kit Siang told me to resign. Now I want to advise Kit Siang to tell his son to resign over the landslide," he said.

"Tuhan Maha Kaya (God is fair). Now it (a tragedy) has happened in his son's state so he should ask his son to resign."

Following the tahfiz fire, Lim had said that Noh had not been serious in ensuring that the Fire and Rescue Department identify all schools and premises at risk of fire.

"Noh should be sacked as minister for urban wellbeing, housing and local government for he has no understanding of urban wellbeing [...] He should be switched to another ministry where his ministerial negligence would not cause the loss of so many human lives," Lim (photo) had said.

The tragedy in Tanjung Bungah occurred last Saturday, killing 11 - one Malaysian and 10 migrant workers.

The landslide occurred at the site earmarked for 980 units of affordable housing being developed by Taman Sri Bunga Sdn Bhd, which is part of the Boon Siew Group.

Pending investigations, a stop work order has been issued to the developer, while the contractor of the project was blacklisted.

Meanwhile, Noh said an official letter has been sent to the Penang state government for the latter to present a report on the tragedy during the National Physical Planning Council meeting which will be chaired by the prime minister on Oct 30.

On another matter, when asked whether action could be taken against states that do not follow his ministry's guidelines on hillslope development, Noh said his ministry was only responsible for coming out with the guidelines.

"The local authorities have full authority. Some states do not follow our guidelines, including Selangor which has its own guidelines."

Apart from Penang and Selangor, Kelantan, too, follows its own guidelines in relation to hillslope development.

When pointed out that it was only PKR, DAP and PAS-led states that do not follow his ministry's guidelines, he said: "(It's because) the opposition thinks it's smarter than us".

-- Mkini