Contractor in deadly landslide in Tanjung Bungah fined RM35,000 


Looi Sue-Chern

A search and rescue team work around the clock to recover the bodies of those buried alive in a landslide in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, on October 21, 2107. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 24, 2018.

THE main contractor of an affordable apartment project in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, where a landslide killed 11 workers last year, was fined RM35,000 by the George Town Sessions Court today for failing to ensure the occupational safety, health and welfare of its workers at the work site.

The landslide at the Lengkok Lembah Permai site on October 21 last year killed 10 foreign labourers and one Malaysian site supervisor.

In a statement today, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health in Penang said the company, Choongcons (Penang) Sdn Bhd had pleaded guilty to contravening Section 15(2)(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.

The law states that employers must make arrangements to ensure so far as is practicable, safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use or operation, handling, storage and transport of plant and substances.

The penalty for the offence is  a fine not exceeding RM50,000, jail not exceeding two years, or both.

Judge Wan Azimah Yaacob, who meted out the judgement today, ordered the defendant to pay the fine or be sent to jail for two months.
R. Buvaneswaran and Muhd Noor Azmil Muhamad Fishol prosecuted.

The landslide in Tanjung Bungah occurred almost exactly a year before last Friday’s deadly landslide, also on a construction site, in Bukit Kukus, Paya Terubong, where nine foreign labourers were killed and four more injured. – October 24, 2018. 


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Comments


  • Really? Many lives lost and still got 15k discount?

    Posted 7 years ago by ASK LAZIE · Reply

  • Should have been RM50,000 for each of the dead.

    Posted 7 years ago by Xuz ZG · Reply

  • 35,000 only!? What nonsense is this. 9 deaths and 35,000 fine? The directors of the company should not only be black listed but criminal charges should be brought against them

    Posted 7 years ago by TTs Take · Reply