THE latest landslide in Tanjung Bungah comes on the heels of several complaints about hillside developments in the area.

Long-time residents of the area had been deeply concerned over the hill-cutting, which had already caused massive soil erosion, according to a news reports published in the last few months.

According to reports, at least two hillslopes were stripped for development projects in Tanjung Bungah.

One of the signboards erected there said it was for roadworks in Jalan Solok Tanjung Bungah while the other was for a 50-storey affordable housing project in Lorong Lembah Permai.

Residents had complained about the massive development in Tanjung Bungah, which they said was akin to rapid development in Hong Kong, where buildings had sprouted and destroyed its natural beauty.

Tanjung Bungah residents’ association chairman Renji Sathiah said residents were against many projects, especially those on hills with a 25-degree gradient or more, and 250 feet above sea level.

Many residents living near hillslopes were having sleepless nights, fearing the worst, including a landslide.

“A disaster is waiting to happen if the authorities do not pay heed and safety measures are not implemented immediately,” Renji had been quoted as saying.

The Penang Structural Plan 2007 has guidelines discouraging such projects, of which Renji claimed the city council had turned a blind eye to.

Few months ago, the association submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on July 21 expressing the residents’ frustration and disappointment over the state government and city council’s inaction.

The memorandum noted several pressing issues, especially on how the projects would affect the environment.

Residents said they were also concerned that the current transportation infrastructure would not be able to cope with the rapid development in Tanjung Bungah.

The memorandum also quoted planners who said development planning was absent and that it was unclear if these projects conformed to the local plan.

Renji said the local council failed to respond to the residents’ association’s inquiries on several issues related to development in the area.

“This frustrates us, and the council seems to be too developer-friendly and indifferent to public concerns,” Renji had said.

But it was not just residents expressing their concerns; even their elected representative, Teh Yee Cheu, lamented the diminishing greenery in Penang.

The, who is Tanjung Bungah assemblyman, said the Pearl of the Orient was less green now than in the past due to developments rising since the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“However, over the past 10 years, developments are somewhat more aggressive, with more hillslopes and hilly areas being cleared. It is true that the Penang government has not touched a single inch of its permanent forest reserve, but what about other hillslopes and hilly areas?

“Everyone can see the vast developments taking shape in this island, unless of course, one is in a total state of denial,” he said in a New Straits Times report published on June 23.

Citing his constituency as an example, Teh said he had objected vehemently to numerous development projects on hillslopes and hilly areas during his two terms in office.

“What we are seeing now is more high rises being built, some of which are even higher than older ones.

“Of course, the capitalists, in this case the developers, will go for every opportunity to make money. Only those in power, who have strong willpower, can stop this,” he said.

Teh also gave a chilling reminder of the 2008 mud floods that occurred after nearby hills were stripped by two developers.

He said it was the first time the neighbourhood had been flooded in four decades.

“Can we be sure that when it rains, mud water from the construction site will not flow downhill and flood houses at the bottom? The bald patch on the hill is visible.”

Teh said the skyline from Tanjung Bungah to Batu Ferringhi had changed and that there were no fewer than 50 high-rise buildings along the stretch, with nearly 10 projects pending approval.

In his statement during the Tanjung Bungah residents’ association’s annual general meeting, which is available online, Renji said residents of Tanjung Bungah and neighbouring communities had seen an acceleration in the deterioration of the environment in the past year.

“The main cause of this is that the state government favours developers over the concerns of those whose quality of life is affected by the degradation of the environment.”

Renji said development, illegal construction, massive land reclamation without environmental impact assessments and the controversial Penang Traffic Master Plan were key issues facing the people of Tanjung Bungah and Penang.

“We must counter these threats to the environment and to our quality of life.

“But to do so, we need your support and commitment.

“Regrettably, here in our neighbourhood and elsewhere in Penang, people seem to react only when faced with a problem on their doorstep.

“This has to change if we are to show solidarity on matters impacting the community.” – October 21, 2017.