IF attention is given to hillslopes and water flow at such construction sites, landslides can be avoided, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.

He admitted there were shortcomings in monitoring and enforcement by authorities at such developments, adding that there were enough laws to regulate and control such developments.

“The problem is not the lack of laws but it is more to enforcement, implementation and monitoring. That is often our weakness,” he said after opening Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai’s second service centre earlier today.

Chow was asked to comment on Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks that development projects, particularly those proposed on hillsides or mountain slopes, should be studied to ensure that they don’t damage the environment and affect safety.

Dr Mahathir reportedly said developers of such projects should also take into account the current uncertain weather conditions.

“The trees that grow in the jungle should be taken care of as they can act to stabilise the land,” he said following the fatal landslide in Paya Terubong yesterday. Several foreign labourers were killed.

The landslide happened at the construction site to build the Paya Terubong pair road. The project is being handled by the Penang Island City Council.

He also said the Dewan Rakyat had earlier this week passed amendments to the Building, Streets and Drainage Act.

Among the amendments is a new requirement for geotechnical reports validated by qualified inspectors to be submitted for all construction projects involving slopes of 25-degree gradient and higher than 10m.

The cost for geotechnical reports are to be borne by developers and parties responsible for the projects, not the local authorities.

“The amendment is appropriate because Malaysia, including Penang, faces issues with hillslope developments,” Chow said. – October 20, 2018.