Landslide panel to start probe
Special committee to complete report in a month, says Zaki
GEORGE TOWN: A special committee, set up by the Penang state government to investigate the cause of the Oct 19 landslide at the Bukit Kukus paired road project site in Paya Terubong, will start its investigation this week.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, who was appointed chairman of the special committee, said the investigation is expected to be completed in about a month.
“We hope we can get the report out as soon as possible because Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had given his commitment to the state government that follow-up action would be taken as soon as possible.
“Other parties have also begun investigative proceedings such as the Construction Industry Development Board, police and other authorities.
“We will start this week by gathering the people involved, and I hope we can get it done as soon as possible ... about a month to conclude the findings,” Ahmad Zakiyuddin told reporters after launching a lifestyle seminar here yesterday.
On Wednesday, the state government announced that a special committee would investigate the cause of the landslide and its members would include state Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, an engineer from the state secretary’s office as well as a representative of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia.
The landslide at the project site claimed the lives of nine foreign workers. Four others were also injured in the second major landslide in the state.
Another disaster at the site of an affordable housing project at Lengkok Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah last year, killed 11 workers.
On the proposal by Penang Forum, an NGO, that two of its members be included in the committee, Ahmad Zakiyuddin said it was an investigation committee and not a commission.
“This is a committee that will advise and provide information to the state government, that is all. Because if the state government gets information from various parties, then it will be difficult to take action.
“We (the committee) are part of the state executive council or exco and will determine the conclusion for the exco as a whole,” he said.
“We only offer advice and the exco can take its own action and use its findings.”