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Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has joined in the calls urging the state government to increase the monitoring of hillslope developments to ensure that such projects comply with the law.
Najib said such hillslope development projects needed to be watched closely to prevent disasters from occurring.
"Developers, too, should not just prioritise profits but take into account the effect of their projects on the environment," Najib told reporters at Sekolah Agama Ar Ridhuan in Nyior Sebatang, Tasek Gelugor, today.
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Najib was on a half-day visit to Seberang Perai today to assess the flood situation and was briefed by State Secretary Farizan Darus at the Seberang Perai Central District office.
He made the call on hillslope project monitoring when he was asked to respond to calls by civil society and the state opposition to halt hillslope development in Penang due to its impact on the environment.
Heavy rains and strong winds caused seven deaths, floods, fallen trees, massive traffic jams all over the state and the collapse of buildings and roads in Tanjung Bungah.
On Oct 21, Tanjung Bungah suffered a major landslide that killed 11, resulting in NGOs and residents groups calling for a moratorium on hillslope development.
13 flood mitigation projects identified
Earlier, Najib announced that the federal government would decide on the amount of allocation for long-term flood mitigation projects in Penang after discussing with the state government.
He identified 13 projects, which he estimated would cost RM1 billion in allocations, on top of the RM150 million which has been approved by Putrajaya.
"These projects will be completed in a couple of years and this is the first phase. We are hoping to allocate the funds soon, bearing in mind the seriousness of the situation," Najib said.
When told that the flood situation may not improve as the funds would take several months to be approved, the prime minister retorted: "Even if we approve it today, the projects cannot be completed tomorrow, understand?"
Accompanying Najib were his wife Rosmah Mansor, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his wife Betty Chew.
Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were present during Najib's visit at the District Office.- Mkini
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