Now, group questions Penang council’s ability to detect illegal earthworks

The landslide at Batu Ferringhi which saw four workers buried alive. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Forum today questioned the capacity of the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to monitor illegal earthworks on the island following the council’s admission that it was unaware of the construction work in Batu Ferringhi that caused a landslide there earlier this week.

MBPP had said it was unaware of the unauthorised earthworks at a chalet resort at Jalan Batu Ferringhi as the resort was located along the lower recesses of the road.

“This would mean that in spite of the fact that MBPP has a team to detect such illegal construction cases, the council was unable to detect this case which went ‘off the radar’ as a result of its obscure location,” Penang Forum said.

In a statement, it questioned how many other cases of illegal earthworks could be found on Penang’s hill slopes.

“And does MBPP have sufficient monitoring and enforcement capacity to detect these case and act on them?”

The landslide in question killed four construction workers who had been working on a retaining wall at the site.

Penang Forum said while the landowners had been attempting to fix an eroded slope on their own, MBPP should educate the public that such moves should be referred to the city council beforehand.

It said awareness about slope safety should be translated into simple terms so that all landowners and members of the public can alert the authorities to any erosion.

It also urged the state government to launch a probe into the landslide and to prosecute anyone found guilty of negligence.

It said tougher penalties should also be handed down on those who carry out such work without permission as a deterrent to others.

It also reiterated its call for a halt to all slope-related development and highway development in hilly areas until a thorough check has been carried out of all slopes in the state.

“This latest incident exposes the dangers of development on slopes, especially when cut, and regardless of whether it is legal or illegal,” it said.

Tanjung Bungah and the neighbouring Batu Ferringhi will see a new 10km bypass road connecting the towns to those on the northwestern side of the island near Teluk Bahang. These were previously connected by a single carriageway.

The road, dubbed the North Coast Paired Road, will see jungles cleared to allow for a 2km flyover.

The bypass road is part of the Penang undersea tunnel and three main roads project worth a total of RM6.3 billion. The road project has been approved but has yet to begin. - FMT