Penang YB apologises for landslide

GEORGE TOWN: Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu has apologised to all Penangites for a landslide that occurred at a hill slope construction site this morning, burying alive nearly 14 people there.

He said the authorities had to explain to the people now what exactly had happened and what caused the landslide.

“I have been there since early this morning. It is up to the professionals now to give a full report of the incident.

“The people are worried. It could be a case of negligence, or just sheer ignorance about the environment.

“I would like to apologise to all Penangites as the state government was not aware of possible negligence, despite being extra careful,” Teh told FMT.

In the 8.50am incident, a 10m-high hill slope came crashing down at the construction site of a condominium, not far from the Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Tanjung Bungah.

At the time of writing, two victims were rescued, while two bodies were retrieved. Although their identities are yet unknown, they are believed to be foreigners.

Teh also revealed that a local graduate working at the construction site was likely buried in the landslide, together with 13 other foreign construction workers.

He said according to a briefing by one of the rescue workers, most of the victims were likely buried at least “10 to 15 feet” under mud and rubble. He said natural boulders from the hill had also come hurtling down during the landslide.

“One local supervisor who is a fresh graduate from TAR College is working there.

“The two survivors first rescued were found on the surface of the landslide. The rest, unfortunately, are buried deep down. We pray for them,” Teh said.

As of 1.30pm, fire and rescue department officials were still frantically working to excavate swathes of earth from the site in search of more victims. -FMT