CALLS for the Penang government to cease all developments on hills after Saturday’s landslide at a construction site in Tanjung Bungah continue, with DAP assemblyman, Teh Yee Cheu urging the state to listen to the views of those opposing such projects. 

“Instead of pouring energy to deflect, deny and defend, the Penang government and MBPP Penang Island City Council should step up efforts to halt all hill development projects. 

“They should take seriously the feedback from those who disagree with the overdevelopment on the island,” said the two-term Tanjung Bungah assemblyman, who is known for raising environmental issues in the state. 

The construction site at Lorong Lembah Permai 3 is on low and flat land, but is located near a hillside. 

The private developer building 50 storeys of affordable apartments project there, has been issued a stop-work order. 

Teh also called on the state government and the developer to come up with an amicable solution for the apartment buyers. 

“Buyers of this project by Taman Sri Bunga Sdn Bhd are also caught in a limbo as they do not know whether to continue servicing their loans or not. 

“I hope the developer and the state government can come up with an amicable solution for those who have purchased units at Granito @ Permai,” he said. 

Teh also asked the state to order the developer to complete clearing the remaining soil at the construction site to make sure that there were no bodies unaccounted for. 

“On the day of the incident, at 8.50am, I was told that up to 20 people were suspected to be buried in the sludge. 

“Although… 14 names (were) submitted by the developer to the Fire and Rescue Department, the government still has a responsibility to put all doubts to rest by clearing the debris,” he added. 

It was reported that out of the 14 workers caught in the landslide, three managed to escape with injuries. 

The Penang government and MBPP had said the incident was a construction site accident.

The state government is planning to set up an inquiry to find what caused the landslide. A police report was also lodged yesterday by MBPP to enable the police to probe whether there had been negligence at the construction site. – October 24, 2017.