SINCE 2008, the Penang government has rejected several applications by federal agencies and private developers for projects on hill land that failed to comply with its regulations.

State executive councillor in charge of housing Jagdeep Singh Deo said since 2008, when the opposition took over the reins in Penang, the DAP-led state government had rejected 11 applications from the private sector because the proposed projects were on hill land higher than 76m above sea level.

He said the state also rejected applications for housing under the 1Malaysia Civil Servant Housing (Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1 Malaysia – PPA1M) because the federal programme “appeared not to understand” the strict guidelines that banned developments on hill land”.

“(Some of the applications were for projects that were) above 160m. 

“We will never approve such projects in Penang, even if it is a federal programme,” he said today during a spot check at a construction site in Teluk Kumbar.

Jagdeep said before 2008, such projects were, however, given the green light.

“Our records show that at least 28 high-rise schemes (on land) above 76m were approved and built during the previous administration, in particular from 1985 to 2008. 

“Are these units unsafe to be inhabited? Clearly they have been inhabited by thousands of residents all this while, and irresponsible statements on how unsafe such developments are will only instil fear in the minds of these residents,” he said.

The Penang government has been under fire from environmental pressure groups and Barisan Nasional politicians after Satuday’s landslide at a construction site in Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah resulted in the death of 11 men, 10 foreign workers and a Malaysian site supervisor.

It took three days to recover all of the bodies at the site of a proposed 50-storey affordable apartment project. The last two bodies were found yesterday.

The landslide reignighted objections against developments on hill land and slopes.

Some groups had even warned the two-term DAP-led state government that it risks losing voters because it did not listen to concerns over development and environmental issues, such as hill land development.

Jagdeep said “irresponsible parties” had misled the public by saying that the Lembah Permai project was a hill slope development.

“I wish to stress that the claims made by irresponsible parties that the Tanjung Bungah project was a development on a hill slope is completely untenable, as in fact it was on flat land, at 40m above sea level.

“Our guidelines on hillside development prohibits developments beyond 76m as opposed to the federal government guidelines, which allows development of hillside up to 300m,” he said.

Jagdeep said those who made such claims should also be held accountable and be asked to explain the existence of numerous housing schemes, including high-rises that were not only approved but have long been built in Penang during the previous administration. 

“We will continue to ensure that all developments comply with the technical requirements, in particular the prohibition of development above 76m. And if cases like the Tanjung Bungah landslide occur, we will demand that all parties responsible be held accountable. 

“The issue here today is the safety aspect at the construction site, which clearly needs to be addressed due to the construction site accident that occurred on Saturday and further the structural safety of buildings,” he added.

The state government and Penang Island City Council believe the incident to be a construction site accident,  and plan to set up an inquiry to probe into the cause of the tragedy. – October 24, 2017.