WHILE civil society groups in Penang are adamant that all hill-slope development should stop, Penangites do not want a complete halt to such projects, saying infrastructure needs have to be met.

But they were clear that better safety measures should be taken and that the state government engage responsible contractors.

“You can’t use accidents as an excuse to stop development,” a businessman in Paya Terubong, who only wanted to be known by his surname Lim, said.

His prayer paraphernalia business in Paya Terubong is not far from the landslide at a road construction site in Bukit Kukus that has claimed the lives of nine foreign workers.

The construction is to build the Paya Terubong pair road to address the area’s traffic congestion. The existing Jalan Paya Terubong is the only road linking Air Itam and Relau for residents in the densely populated area.

Lim, 50, who has lived in Paya Terubong for some 20 years, said development is important and necessary for the future.

“Everyone has his own opinion. I think we need development for the sake of our children and grandchildren. We will also suffer if there is no progress.

“We need the new road. For decades, we have lived with just one road. Anything happens on the road, we are stuck in a jam. There is no other road.

“So, we need the development. If you ask me, if the state can build a subway or even an elevated urban rail system, it would be even better,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Asked if he felt worried about the road construction and hill-slope developments after the fatal landslide, Lim said nobody wanted unfortunate incidents to happen.

“It means we need to have better safety at construction sites for workers.”

Lim also weighed in on the calls for such projects to be halted, saying that the state government could not listen to everyone and hope to please everybody.

“The state has to be firm. Look at the Singapore government, how it pushes development. If the state listens to everyone, it will never get anything done.”

He added that under the Pakatan Harapan administration, Paya Terubong has seen positive changes since 2008.

A Paya Terubong resident in his 70s, who gave his surname as Tan, said the road construction should proceed.

“The government must make sure safety measures are in place. They must make sure they hire good and responsible contractors.”

A woman from Paya Terubong also with the surname Tan, however, expressed concern over construction on hill slopes.

“Of course, it is more worrying if it involves the hills, especially during the rainy season,” said the woman who has lived there for decades.

The woman in her 50s said a boulder once rolled down the hill many years ago, but luckily nobody was injured.

Madam Chen, who lives in Taman Seri Rambai in Paya Terubong, spoke more forcefully against hill developments. Behind her neighbourhood is a hill being cut for an apartment project.

“The apartment is some 40 storeys. They exposed so much of the hill slopes and left them exposed for quite a long time before covering them with plastic sheets.

“Some residents had mud washed into their properties. One house owner found the plastic sheet (used to cover exposed soil) on his roof,” said the woman in her 60s.

Chen said she lives in constant worry because of the upcoming development near her home.

“I am not saying development is bad but developers should not just think of their profits and not of the people. If they do things properly, people won’t be worried or upset.”

On the landslide at Bukit Kukus, Chen said she pitied the victims and their families.

“For many years in Penang, we never heard of landslides that killed people. Only nowadays,” she said.

In October last year, a landslide also happened at a condo construction site in Tanjung Bungah, killing 12 workers, including a Malaysian site supervisor.

Since the latest fatal landslide last week, groups like Penang Forum, the Consumers Association of Penang, and the Malaysian Trade Union Congress’ Penang division as well as concerned citizens called on the state government to halt all hill-slope developments. Many also wanted a commission of inquiry into the incident.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Penang Island City Council mayor Yew Tung Seang both said development and the Paya Terubong alternative road project will proceed.

A stop-work order on the project had been imposed days before the landslide over an earlier accident involving collapsed beams at another section of the construction.

Yesterday, Chow said the city council will ensure the road project continued under the best safety conditions once the stop-work order is lifted by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.

“It is up to DOSH to decide when the order can be lifted. When that happens, the engineer of the project will relook the design and make the necessary rectifications.

“We are not worried if the project’s completion may be delayed a few months. The road must be guaranteed safe for use,” he said. – October 24, 2018.