‘What happened to geo-technical unit?’

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Forum has queried the state over the geo-technical consultancy unit which was supposed to monitor hillside development here.

This comes on the heels of two deadly landslides within the past 12 months where 20 construction workers died, forum steering committee member Dr Lim Mah Hui said.

In a statement, Lim said that the forum was not engaging in an “I told you so” exercise.

“This would be counterproductive. Let us instead look at what Hong Kong did to rectify a poor record of construction site monitoring after a series of horrendous landslides.

“The Hong Kong government set up a special geo-technical department in 1978, and staffed it with over 100 professionals to conduct land risk management.”

Lim said in 2014, Penang made an official visit to Hong Kong to learn from them and then set up a similar unit to monitor all hillside developments.

“Was it adequately staffed? What was done or not done, and could the Granito (Tanjung Bungah) and Bukit Kukus (Paya Terubong) tragedies have been prevented?”

In light of this, Lim has proposed that the state should impose a moratorium on all ongoing hill development, both public or private sector projects, and a total ban on those that have not started.

He also called for a review of the road components under the Penang Transport Master Plan, that involves tunnelling through hills.