HILL slopes are not “ticking time bombs”, said geotechnical specialist Dr Chin Yaw Ming, as Penang residents raise concerns about hillside developments in the state.

The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Geotechnical Consultancy Unit (GCU) adviser said hill slopes were safe if properly designed and endorsed by professional engineers with practising certificates registered with the Board of Engineers Malaysia and who had relevant experience in geotechnical engineering.

“Slopes that are properly constructed with engineering supervision and regularly maintained are safe. So, properly engineered slopes are not ticking time bombs,” he told a press conference at Komtar today.

Chin was responding to a Free Malaysia Today report that quoted a geotechnical and environmental consultant as saying steeply cut hill slopes were ticking time bombs at a dialogue organised by Penang Forum on Sunday.

The dialogue was on the state’s flood issue, and saw discussion on hillside developments, following a landslide in Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah, that killed 11 construction workers last month.

The incident is being probed by the state’s Commission of Inquiry, which was set up to look into the tragedy, and the developer.

“In view of the impending inquiry, everybody should refrain from speculating about the Tanjung Bungah landslide incident,” said Chin.

He said MBPP understood the importance of slope safety in hillside developments, and had undertaken a slope safety initiative based on a Hong Kong concept established since the inception of its Geotechnical Engineering Office in 1977.

He said the council looked into containing risks at proposed developments, quarry sites and farms on hill land, using its geotechnical expertise and laws to ensure compliance.

MBPP is also looking into mitigating existing risks at hillsides, such as 34 critical slopes on the island identified by the Public Works Department (PWD) some five years ago, by reviewing proposals and monitoring compliance.

“The 34 are mainly PWD road reserves. Some are residential,” said Chin, adding that MBPP also investigated hillside-related incidents.

He said the council came up with the 2012 Safety Guidelines for Hillside Development and a mechanism to implement slope safety guidelines.

“All new projects must fulfil the stringent criteria – from planning, design and construction to maintenance – and must be properly reviewed before approval is given.

“With proper planning, design, construction and maintenance, hillside developments can be as safe as other developments.”

The GCU is tasked with reviewing proposed geotechnical reports by checking site and ground conditions, and ensuring projects complied with safety guidelines and good engineering practices.

It also monitors compliance during construction by reviewing audit reports and visiting the sites of all classes of hill slopes whenever necessary.

The unit initiates or proposes mitigation measures for existing hillsides, and gives advisory support for quarry and hillside agriculture areas.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Commission of Inquiry hearing into the landslide incident, which occurred at Lorong Lembah Permai 3, would be open to the public.

He said the scope of the inquiry had been fine-tuned by commission chairman Yeo Yang Poh since the latter’s appointment last week.

Lim said the state’s next step would be to get the commission gazetted by the governor. – November 1, 2017.