ANOTHER civil group in Penang has asked the state government to include its reps in the special committee probing a deadly landslide in Bukit Kukus on the island.

In a statement today, Anak Pinang said the state should “stop practising favouritism” in engagements with civil groups.

Anak Pinang said while it was happy that the state government iwas open to discourse and considering its inclusion in the committee, it reminded the government to be fair to all civil groups and avoid discrimination.

“(The state should) at all times practise transparency and fairness to all queries from the public and civil groups.

“In the event the state government decides to allocate slots to civil groups, Anak Pinang would like to be included as one of the special committee members.

Anak Pinang said it has among its members, legal and engineering professionals who can contribute to the committee.

The group describes itself on its website as a loose community of like-minded Penangites, who want to create a better Penang that is vibrant and modern, while preserving and continuing to enhance its core strengths and values.

The Penang government has set up a special committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman to investigate the October 19 landslide that killed 9 foreign workers at a road construction site in Bukit Kukus. The project owner is the Penang Island City Council.

Earlier today, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Institution of Engineers Malaysia Penang branch chairman Ting Chek Choon and incoming chairman Yau Ann Nian would sit on the committee.

He said the state would consider Penang Forum’s request to send at least a lawyer and an engineer as its representatives on the committee. – October 26, 2018.