‘Penang vulnerable, to landslides, floods’
They are the main reason for disasters, says Wan Junaidi
PENANG is in deeper trouble than any other state in the country because of numerous hillslope development projects, says the environment minister.
THE Federal Government has reiterated that Penang is vulnerable to natural disasters, including floods and landslides, as there is unbalanced and excessive development in the state.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said unlike other states, Penang was more exposed to risks as there were many development projects in the state.
He said hillslope development projects were the main factor that caused such natural disasters.
“Hillslopes serve as water retention areas. Due to the projects, the area can no longer absorb water, which will flow down the hills with soil and sediments.
“This situation worsens when the drainage and irrigation system is not upgraded as the infrastructure cannot cope with the massive rainfall,” he said after visiting a drainage worksite in Kampung Tabuan Melayu here yesterday.
There have been increasing calls from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and politicians from both side of the political divide on the DAP-led Penang government to stop hillslope development.
Their calls followed the major floods in Penang that saw seven casualties and the displacement of more than 5,000 people.
Wan Junaidi advised the Penang leadership to have faith in and listen to the recommendations of experts, including the ministry.
“The ministry has experts from the Department of Environment (DoE), Drainage and Irrigation Department and National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia.
“They have people with expertise on water that can benefit the state government.”
Two prominent NGOs claimed that the deforestation on the hillslopes was a contributing factor to the floods.
“The green areas, which have been cleared to make way for development, act as a sponge that absorbs water,” said Consumers’ Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia president SM Mohamed Idris.
Former Penang Island City councillor Dr Lim Mah Hui had said 56 development projects on hill land were approved between 2008 and 2015.
The figures, Lim had said, were derived from a statistic provided by state Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow to the Penang State Assembly in November 2015.
In Kuala Lumpur, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the unchecked development in Penang, which contributed to the floods, was a signal for Barisan Nasional to ramp up its efforts to retake the state in the 14th General Election.
Zahid said the DAPled state government’s failure to produce a tactful physical development plan was compounded by its ignorance of the advice issued by DoE.
Zahid was referring to reports on DoE’s warning against the dangers of hillside projects in Penang.
“They blasted us by saying that it was not because of the levelling of hills, or development.
“It rained for 17 hours and if the development was planned well, it (Penang) would not have flooded,” Zahid said during the opening ceremony of Gerakan’s 46th National Delegates Conference yesterday.