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Put on hold: A view of the site for the development of four apartment buildings in Paya Terubong, Air Itam.
GEORGE TOWN: Since the deadly landslide in Tanjung Bungah, people in Paya Terubong are looking over their shoulder – and up at a nearby hill.
They have been trying for years to stop a project comprising four towers, each over 40 storeys tall, approved on a hillside across the road from their homes.
Because the project has already been approved, the residents are down to one last resort – the state Planning Appeals Board.
“We must try. The only thing between our homes and those four towers will be a new two-way street that the developer will build if this project goes on,” said Taman Sri Rambai and Taman Lau Geok Swee Residents’ Association chairman Dr Ti Lian Geh.
The plan, he said, was supposed to be six-storey townhouses but the developer put in a request to change it to high-density apartments.
He said the residents have been living in fear after learning that the development plan was changed to three blocks of 47-storey luxury apartments and a 41-storey block of affordable housing.
He said a hearing is ongoing with the Planning Appeals Board to stop the development.
“Building skyscrapers on a steep hillslope is dangerous. If the towers come down, the whole neighbourhood will be gone,” he said, adding that the high-density project will also worsen traffic congestion there.
He told a press conference yesterday that the earthworks two years ago caused frequent flash floods, mudslides and torrential mudflows in the neighbourhood.
Penang MCA and Gerakan, which organised the press conference, urged the state government to revoke the approval.
Bukit Gelugor MCA division deputy secretary Choong Jun Jie said that every time there is a downpour, the residents worry.
“We do not want another tragedy,” he said.
Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Oh Tong Keong said people’s lives are in jeopardy when highrise projects are given priority.
The staggered hillslope is now covered with geotextile sheets after the Penang Island City Council issued a stop-work order about two years ago.
Penang Island City Council Engineering Department director Addnan Mohd Razali said all construction work there except for mitigation measures have been stopped pending the outcome of the residents’ appeal.
Source: The Star by Logeiswary Thevadass and Rena Lim
RECENTLY, the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) received an
enquiry on the usage of the title “Engr.” for members of the
institution. The title “Ir” was first introduced by IEM in the early
1970s for both the graduate and corporate members of the Inst...Getting
titles right in the engineering field in Malaysia rightwaystosuccess.blogspot.com
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council has lodged a police report against the consultant of the affordable housing project that was hit by a landslide in Tanjung Bungah on Saturday, claiming the lives of 11 workers.
This is because the state government wants the matter investigated and the responsible parties to be charged, state Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.
He stressed that the incident was a construction site accident.
“We hope the council and other related agencies will give their fullest cooperation to the police,” he told a press conference at Komtar yesterday.
At the same conference, Mayor Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif acknowledged that the project was rejected by the Department of Environment (DOE) but said it was approved by the state because it complied with Penang’s Safety Guidelines for Hill Site Development 2012.
Besides, she said, the DOE had approved a residential project and a private education institution that were even closer to the quarry.
“It is located more than 500m from the quarry’s blasting point while federal guidelines only require a minimum distance of 350m.
“The project’s site is zoned as ‘general residential’ and the slope gradient is less than 20°.
What a mess: Some groups believe that if the
DOE’s advice had been heeded, the landslide tragedy could have been
avoided. — Bernama
“The land is also less than 76m above sea level with the site located on a contour between 18m and 40m,” she said.
Maimunah said that based on all the requirements, the council’s One-Stop Centre (OSC) – which comprises members from more than 20 technical agencies at state and federal level – agreed to approve the project.
The OSC is in charge of approving property development plans on the island.
“The earthworks planning permission was presented to the OSC on May 14, 2015, and it was approved with conditions on June 6, 2015, while the commencement of work approval was given on Jan 18 last year,” she said.
However, the Tanjung Bungah Residents Association was not happy with the reasons given by the council for allowing the project.
“How could the council ignore the advice when the DOE is the authority responsible for protecting the environment?” association chairman Meenakshi Raman asked.
Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif telling a press conference that the project met state guidelines.
“If they had heeded the DOE’s advice, this tragedy could have been avoided and lives would not have been lost.”
“We feel betrayed ... the state government failed to listen to us,” she said yesterday, commenting on Maimunah’s statements at the press conference.
Penang Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman urged the state government to immediately set up an independent body to audit all approvals of hillslope development projects made by the various state authorities.
“The Penang government has to take responsibility and be accountable for the tragedy involving the loss of 11 lives.
“We ask it to stop blaming others for any accident which occurred since it became the state government.
“We are surprised that a project which was not supported by a technical department was still given approval by the state authority,” he said in a statement.
An undertaker (in white) and a priest performing prayers at the scene of
the landslide for site supervisor Yuan Kuok Wern, 27, who was killed in
the tragedy.
The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) also came forward to offer technical assistance and opinions in the investigation.
Its president Dr Tan Yean Chin said in a statement that IEM is recognised locally and internationally as a professional body representing a wide cross-section of the engineering practice.
“As a learned society with over 40,000 members
and affiliated to several international engineering organisations, IEM
is able to offer expert opinions on this tragic event,” he said.
The right way: Tang (right) and Penang MCA
Public Services and Complaints Bureau deputy chief Tan Eng Hin
explaining what really should have been done to conduct a fair inquiry
at the MCA headquarters in Penang.
RECENTLY, the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) received an
enquiry on the usage of the title “Engr.” for members of the
institution. The title “Ir” was first introduced by IEM in the early
1970s for both the graduate and corporate members of the Inst...Getting
titles right in the engineering field in Malaysia rightwaystosuccess.blogspot.com
Speaking out: Penang Forum members protesting outside the CAP office in George Town.
Don’t just make it about worker safety issues
https://youtu.be/xVK77MvxrZw
GEORGE TOWN: A Penang Forum member is worried that the state’s proposed inquiry into the Tanjung Bungah landslide will only focus on worker safety issues.
Meenakshi Raman, who is also Tanjung Bungah Residents Association chairman, said the inquiry should instead look at the laws that have not been followed and whether or not the Penang Structure Plan (PSP) was neglected.
“It should also look at whether the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), which has the authority to act, failed to properly do its job.
“We hope the commission will broaden its scope of inquiry,” she told press conference at the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) office yesterday.
Penang Forum is a loose coalition of several civil society groups in the state.
The coalition, which includes Sahabat Alam Malaysia, CAP, Malaysian Nature Society, Women's Centre for Change, Penang Heritage Trust, Friends of Botanical Gardens, and 25 residents’ associations and management committees, urged the state to halt all hillslope projects immediately.
It also wants the state to amend the 2009 guidelines on “special projects” to explicitly prohibit development on hill lands except for essential public services.
Forum member Dr Lim Mah Hui said the Penang Hills Watch citizens’ initiative provided the state government with information on hill cutting it collected from the public.
“In January, this site was the first case we highlighted to the state government.
“Photos of construction and hill cutting there were presented to the state government. It responded that the ‘earthwork is being monitored’,” he said.
Dr Lim said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng wrote in the Safety Guidelines for Hillside Development in 2012 that local governments were to strengthen their geotechnical units, which process and approve applications for hillside developments, and follow up with strict enforcement.
“It says a monitoring team will be established to ensure compliance in construction and performance (of projects).
“The question is what happened then? Did the state and local governments follow their own guidelines? Or was there gross negligence?
“Such a tragedy could have been avoided,” Dr Lim claimed.
He also said parties like the State Planning Committee, MBPP’s One-Stop-Centre Committee (which approved the project), the engineers, the developer and contractors should be investigated.
CAP vice-president Mohideen Abdul Kader said Penangites’ concerns over hill development dated back some three decades.
“Remember the proposed Penang Hill development which we managed to cancel in the end? What the state must do now is look after the natural resources and listen to the NGOs.
“Public pressure can make a difference,” he said.
Another forum member, Dr Kam Suan Pheng, said the Penang Structure Plan forbade development on hill land 76m (250ft) above sea level or with a gradient of 25° and above.
“But many developers cut hillslopes, making them steeper and less stable.
“The weather is always blamed but there was no rain for the past week. So how did the landslide happen?” she asked.
Dr Kam said the Safety Guidelines for Hillside Development clearly state that “if you have a slope ... depending on the height of the slope, you need to have a buffer zone that is greater than the height of the slope.”
“From the media reports, the height of the affected slope is 10m, so there should be a buffer zone of 10m from the foothill,” she said, adding that the inquiry should explore this aspect.
Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group adviser Yan Lee urged the developer to conduct studies on improving on-site safety measures and engage foreign consultants to make sure the project can go on safely.
“They should also make sure the deceased workers’ families are taken care of.”
RECENTLY,
the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) received an enquiry on the
usage of the title “Engr.” for members of the institution. The title
“Ir” was first introduced by IEM in the early 1970s for both the
graduate and corporate members of the Inst...Getting titles right in the
engineering field in Malaysia rightwaystosuccess.blogspot.com
Suspicious activity: A photo taken from Penang
social activist Anil Netto's blog showing an active stone quarry about
500m directly behind the site of the landslide.
https://youtu.be/yqtdkBsipCU
GEORGE TOWN: As the landslide tragedy takes its toll with three workers killed and 11 others feared dead, DAP state assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu said there are still 10 other development projects pending, but his plea to save the hills has been constantly ignored.
Some of the projects will be near hillsides and more are planned along the coastline. A few are projected to be 50 to 60 storeys high, said the Tanjung Bungah assemblyman.
“I objected to each one. I always use the words Saya membantah sekeras-kerasnya (I strongly object) and some city councillors laughed at me and said the approval authority ‘menyokong sepenuh-penuhya’ (fully supports).
“Now see what has happened,” Teh told The Star.
He was referring to the one-stop centre at the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), which is in charge of approving property development plans on the island.
Teh, who rushed to the scene of the landslide shortly after it happened at about 8.30am yesterday, did not hide his discontent over the spurt of development projects in his constituency.
“Not all those development applications have been approved yet.
“But after the general election, I expect a mushrooming of approvals,” he added.
Tanjung Bungah is one of the few residential areas on the island with a low population density.
The Lembah Permai area, locally called Hillside or Vale of Tempe, is a coveted location for its semi-detached, terraced and bungalow homes.
But in recent years, developers have been submitting plans for high-rises that rival even the height of Komtar, in the area’s unoccupied hills and seaside.
Yesterday’s landslide happened at a construction site near Lorong Lembah Permai 3.
Tens of thousands of tonnes of laterite earth slipped down from a height of about 35m, burying the workers.
Firemen told reporters that the search operation had to be carried out slowly because the slope was unstable.
Teh said he objected to the project’s planning permission about two years ago because the original hill slope had a steepness of 30 to 40 degrees.
“I apologise to my voters in Tanjung Bungah. I objected to the construction, but my words were only taken as a personal view by the MBPP and state government.
“I also apologise to the family members of the victims buried by the landslide,” he said.
Asked about a stone quarry located some 500m further uphill from where the landslide occurred, Teh said that it was active, with rock blasting going on two to three times a week.
“I am against that too, but it was allowed to continue,” he added.
Source: The Star
Another call to stop all hill-slope development immediately
Why must it take a tragedy to happen in Penang before the Penang state and local governments wake up to the dangers of rampant and unsustainable development especially on hill slopes? Or will they wake up?
Two years ago, in December 2015, the Penang Forum, alarmed by such negative developments, organised a half-day event titled “Save Our Hills” in which engineering, planning and legal experts gave presentations on the dangers of hill-slope development. (The presentations are available on Penang Forum’s website.)
It then called on the government to review and stop further hill-slope projects. Very sadly, the call fell on deaf ears and the consequences are painfully evident today after an estimate of perhaps 15 lives are lost in a landslide at a hill-slope project in Tanjung Bungah.
Penang Forum then started Penang Hills Watch (PHW), a citizens’ initiative to provide the state government, information on hill cuttings that it collects from the public. In January 2017, the PHW met with the state government; the present site where this tragedy happened was the first case that PHW highlighted to the state government. (Please visit the PHW website.) Photos of construction and hill cutting on this site were presented to the state government – to which it responded that the “earthwork is being monitored.”
The chief minister of Penang, in the Safety Guidelines for Hillside Development, said: “Penang Local Governments (MPPP and MPSP) are to strengthen their Geotechnical unit, which processes and approves applications for hill site developments, followed by strict enforcement. A monitoring team will be established to ensure compliance in construction and monitoring performance of slopes.”
The question is what happened then? Did the state and local governments follow through their own guidelines? Or was there gross negligence?
Such senseless tragedy could have been avoided. Penang Forum calls for an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate what went wrong and how such incidents can be avoided in the future. All parties beginning from the State Planning Committee that gave approval for all hill-slope projects, to the One-Stop-Committee of the Penang Island City Council that also approved the project, to the engineers who are supposed to monitor the projects, to the developers and contractors who carried out the project should be investigated and held responsible.
In the meantime, Penang Forum once again calls on the authorities to:
stop all hill-slope projects with immediate effect;
immediately amend the 2009 guidelines on ‘special projects’ to explicitly prohibit all development on hill lands, except if it is for essential public services;
rehabilitate all existing exposed and barren slopes and spaces to prevent further soil erosion;
undertake stern enforcement, effective and deterrent punishment on those who clear land illegally or do not abide by conditions imposed to prevent soil-erosion;
monitor frequently and effectively all hill slopes by the local authorities;
publicly declare and give warning on all hill slopes and areas that are not safe.
Sources: Penang Forum
Sahabat Alam Malaysia Consumers Association of Penang
Residents associations and management committees of Penang
Consumers & Residents tell state govt, ‘We told you so’
https://youtu.be/znzduuH8Soc
GEORGE TOWN: The Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association (TBRA) is demanding for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on all hill slope developments in Penang, following a landslide at a construction site this morning that buried nearly 18 people.
TBRA chair Meenakshi Raman said the RCI would be a form of audit on all risky hill slope projects in the state, to prevent any tragedies from happening again.
She also said the TBRA had repeatedly appealed to the Penang government to put an end to hill slope developments as it would have a domino effect on flash floods in the state.
“We were called ‘irrational’ by the Penang government when we appealed for hill slope developments to stop. Who’s irrational now?
“Today’s incident is a grave and grim warning to the authorities to take heed of Mother Nature’s warning,” Meenakshi said when contacted today.
In the 8.50am incident, a 10m-high hill slope came crashing down next to a construction site not far from the Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Tanjung Bungah.
At the time of writing, two survivors were rescued, while two more bodies were retrieved from the mud and rubble. Although their identities are not yet known, they are believed to be foreign workers.
Meenakshi said during last month’s flash floods, TBRA and other residents’ associations made a collective appeal to the state government to end all excess developments and hill clearing in the state.
TBRA, concerned groups, and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) had also previously called on the Penang government to amend existing guidelines concerning hill slopes.
Meanwhile, SAM president S M Mohamed Idris said the NGO had written to the Penang government “several times” urging them to stop hillside developments.
“We have warned that hill slopes are fragile ecosystems and cannot be touched.
“And now, we are really shocked that the lives of many have been sacrificed. We support TBRA’s call for an urgent RCI,” he said when contacted.
