SCI set to start probe into landslide

GEORGE TOWN: The State Commission of Inquiry (SCI) is set to begin its investigation into the Tanjung Bungah landslide tragedy which claimed 11 lives in October last year.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the SCI was gazetted on Dec 21 last year after obtaining assent from the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, on Dec 6.

He said Abdul Rahman had also agreed to the appointment of the members of the commission and its term of reference.

“State secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus will send out the letters of appointment to the commissioners,” he said during a press conference at Komtar.

Members of the commission are Penang Planning Appeals Board chairman Datuk Yeo Yang Poh as chairman, with its members comprising geotechnical expert Datuk Dr Gue See Sew and forensic geo-technical engineer from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Prof Ramli Nazir.

On Oct 21, a landslide hit an affordable condominium project made up of two 49-storey (50 levels) towers with 980 units in total within the Permai Village township near Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

The tragedy claimed the lives of 11 workers. Among them was site supervisor Yuan Kuok Wern, 27.

Lim said the SCI would wrap up the investigations and present the findings within three months from the date of the first sitting.

“The first meeting of the commission will be decided by the chairman as the inquiry can only officially begin after the members receive their letters,” he said, adding that the SCI has to be gazetted and adhered to other legal requirements.