GEORGE TOWN: The State Commission of Inquiry (SCI) tasked with investigating the Tanjung Bungah landslide in October 2017 has found the design engineer of the slope primarily responsible for the incident that claimed 11 lives.
The SCI, in its 116-page report made public, has recommended that the engineer be investigated by the police under Section 304A of the Penal Code for gross negligence.
Besides the engineer, the commission found another design engineer responsible for being “contributorily negligent” for allowing excavation to be carried out without design, engineering calculations and supervision.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the commission found that the slope failure was a man-made tragedy and entirely preventable if those in charge had taken necessary and proper steps to ensure the stability of the slope and the safety of the workers.
“The landslide did not develop overnight, it was a disaster waiting to happen over a period of time.
“There were ample warnings which were sadly unheeded or inadequately heeded,” Chow said of the report at a press conference at his office in Komtar here yesterday.
Chow said the report, dated July 22 this year, was a result of public hearings conducted over 26 days with testimonies from 28 witnesses.
“The commission also considered voluminous documents, reports, photographs and drawings, as well as the opinions of six expert witnesses.
“The report provides further analysis of the background facts, excerpts of testimonies recorded during the hearings and findings on liability against several parties,” he said.
The commission also found the Occupational Safety and Health Department negligent for failing to take adequate steps to ascertain the extent of the danger posed by the unsafe slope, by not promptly issuing a prohibition notice after its visit to the site on Aug 18, 2017, which was two months before the fatal incident.
Chow said copies of the report would be sent to the police, Attorney General’s Chambers, Board of Engineers Malaysia and other authorities involved.
“The report also contains nine recommendations that the commission hopes will serve as guidelines and prevent such incidents from recurring,” he added.
On Oct 21, 2017, a temporary slope in the construction site of a high-rise apartment block in Tanjung Bungah collapsed while workers were trying to stabilise it. Tonnes of earth crumbled, killing 11 workers.
The full SCI report can be bought at Level Three, Komtar, for RM50 per copy between Sept 3 and 30. For more details, call 04-650 5480.- Source link
Chow: Agencies have to act against negligent engineers
Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow
GEORGE TOWN: It is up to the relevant agencies to take action against the consultant engineers who were found negligent, resulting in the Tanjung Bungah landslide tragedy, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
“It is up to the agencies and the police to take action as recommended by the State Commission of Inquiry (SCI).
“I have also directed the Town and Country Planning Department, Penang Island City Council, Seberang Prai Municipal Council and other related agencies to come up with recommendations to improve hill development.
“It was discussed at the State Planning Committee meeting and I have directed state housing, town and country planning and local government committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo to head the committee and come up with the recommendations within a month, ” said Chow at Komtar here yesterday.
It was reported that the SCI tasked with investigating the Tanjung Bungah landslide in October 2017 had found the design engineer of the slope primarily responsible for the incident that claimed 11 lives.
The SCI, in its 116-page report made public, had recommended that the engineer be investigated by the police under Section 304A of the Penal Code for gross negligence.
Besides the engineer, the commission found another design engineer responsible for being “contributorily negligent” for allowing excavation to be carried out without design, engineering calculations and supervision.
Penang Island City Council engineering director A. Rajendran, who was also present at the press conference, said the stop-work order on the project was lifted after the developer completed mitigation works.“However, different engineers have been overseeing the project since work resumed some time ago, ” said Rajendran.
On Oct 21,2017, a temporary slope at the construction site of a high-rise apartment block in Tanjung Bungah collapsed while workers were trying to stabilise it.
Tonnes of earth crumbled, killing 11 workers. - Source link
Choong (in white) surveying the deforested hillslope next to Majestic Heights.
PENANG MCA has raised concerns about the safety of the residents in Tingkat Paya Terubong 4, right behind the Majestic Heights flats
Its Bukit Gelugor deputy secretary Marvyy Choong said the deforested hill behind the flats, just a stone’s throw away from Block 1, was a time bomb.
“There are 12 blocks of 23-storey flats in Majestic Heights.
“I understand that many residents have already moved out, leaving only a few more, and we’re worried for their safety.
“The surrounding hills are going bald due to ongoing earthwork and the 12 blocks may all collapse during a landslide,” he told a press conference at the flats yesterday.
He added that the hill clearing work was done by a housing project developer, which is also responsible for the paired road linking Bukit Kukus and Bukit Jambul.
Credits
- Slides presented by Environmental, health and safety consultant
Aziz Noor, and scientist Dr Kam Suan Pheng at the Penang Forum event on Oct 29, 2017
Aishah looking out her window to the hillslope which is just a stone’s throw from her unit
“We are not opposing the paired road project but we’re against high-rise projects in vulnerable areas that may endanger lives,” he said.
Choong said Jalan Paya Terubong was not safe as trees frequently fall during a downpour.
“It is also unsafe for heavy vehicles and they must be banned from using this road after the paired road is completed.”
Meanwhile, housewife Aishah Che Wan, 68, who is living at another apartment scheme near the same hill, said muddy water gushed down the hill on Saturday and Sunday.
“Some small stones damaged a few cars parked by the side of the road,” she said, adding that she now feared for the safety of her family.
“I hope that whoever is clearing the hill will take necessary safety measures to prevent any mishap,” she said. - Starmetro
Seeking solutions: Penang Forum member and
soil expert Dr Kam Suan Pheng giving her views during the dialogue
session themed ‘Penang Floods: A Call for Action’ held at Teow Chew
Association in Chulia Street, George Town.
(Top pic, front from right)
Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Dr Muhammad Farid Saad, state Opposition
Leader Datuk Jahara Hamid and Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin
among the participants.
From left) Sim, Cheah, Dr Norlela, Jahara,
Shah Headan, Lee and Yap occupying the front row at the dialogue on
floods organised by Penang Forum.
Expert: Debris clogging waterways among reasons for flash floods
Some 200 people comprising mostly politicians, experts and residents gather in a dialogue session to discuss the long-standing problem plaguing Penang. Many voice their concerns that over-development in the state could be the cause of the headache.
HEAVY rainfall and high tides are natural causes of floods which cannot be avoided.
However, soil expert and scientist Dr Kam Suan Pheng said there were also other reasons that caused the constant flash floods in Penang.
She said limited capacity to channel off discharge and surface flow which led to water accumulation downstream were some of the causes that resulted in flash floods.
“These issues have been addressed in flood mitigation.
“However, we also have to tackle the causes of increasing impermeable surface areas and debris clogging up waterways, which are also the root causes of flooding problems,” said Dr Kam in her talk on ‘Understanding the Causes of Floods and Seeking Solutions’ yesterday.
Dr Kam, who is also a Penang Forum member, said having proper planning on land usage and development controls, creating more urban spaces and parks besides river bank protection were also vital in flood prevention.
“Stringent monitoring on development projects and protection of hill land and hillslopes are important.
“To do so, policy and legal instruments have to be deployed, while environmentally sensitive and ecologically friendly structural and non-structural solutions should be adopted,” she said.
Dr Kam was one of the speakers at a dialogue session themed ‘Penang Floods: A Call for Action’ held at the Teow Chew Association in Chulia Street.
<< Stringent protection of hill land and hillslopes are vital, says Dr Kam.
Joint Resident Associations of Bandar Baru Ayer Itam chairman K. Suthakar said that for the past two to three years, residents living in Bandar Baru Ayer Itam have been suffering from flash floods.
He said there were some 20 housing schemes in the township comprising 10,000 housing units with a population of 16,000.
“The residents had to face the brunt of it when the whole city was underwater on Sept 15.
“I visited the retention ponds in Lebuh Rambai and Desa Permata Bandar Baru Ayer Itam on Saturday to check whether the ponds have been deepened.
“Sadly, nothing has been done,” he said.
He asked some of the state assemblymen, who were present at the dialogue session, to raise the issue when the state assembly convenes on Thursday.
When hills are at their natural state, they will not collapse, says Aziz Noor.
When hills are at their natural state, they will not collapse, says Aziz Noor.>>
Environmental, health and safety consultant Aziz Noor, in his talk on ‘Implications of Hillside Development’, said landslides commonly happened on hillsides or slopes that were cleared.
“When the hills are at their natural state, they will not collapse.
“But when the natural state is violated with the slopes being cut, then landslides are bound to happen.
“Whenever there is a downpour on the cut hill slopes, there would be mudslides contributing to muddy flash floods as well,” he said.
Filepic of recent flooding in Taman Thean Tek, Ayer Itam, Penang.
The dialogue session saw a packed hall of almost 200 people, comprising mostly residents and representatives of residents associations who were affected by the recent flash floods.
Several state assemblymen and politicians from both sides of the divide also turned up at the event organised by Penang Forum and Residents Association of Penang.
Among those present were Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow, state Opposition Leader Datuk Jahara Hamid, Pulau Betong assemblyman Datuk Dr Muhammad Farid Saad, Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah, Kebun Bunga assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng, Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin, Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon, Pulau Tikus assemblyman Yap Soo Huey and Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin.
Sources: The Star by Logeiswary Thevadas
Engineer: Look out for ‘ticking time bombs’ from hill slopes
GEORGE TOWN: A geotechnical engineer has warned the authorities that steeply-cut hill slopes are “ticking time bombs” that need constant monitoring and maintenance.
Zeezy Global geotechnical and environmental consultant Aziz Noor said in view of the Tanjung Bungah landslide on Oct 21 that took the lives of 11 workers, all authorities, not only in Penang but throughout Malaysia, should keep an eye on all steep slopes as disaster might strike at any time.
He said although a hill slope might appear fine from the outside, it could be on the brink of collapse due to water pressure and vibrations from the surrounding environment.
“Most of these slopes are clay mixed with sand. Clay has an affinity ( to stick together). At particle level, they can hold up.
“When water comes down steep slopes they break the affinity of these particles. And yet they still hold up but it just speeds up the time of the collapse.
“That is why they do not fall right away. They are a time bomb, a disaster waiting to happen,” he said at a talk hosted by Penang Forum today.
Aziz, an American-trained environmental and geotechnical expert, was manager of an independent consultant engineering firm investigating the aftermath of the Highland Towers collapse in Ulu Kelang, Selangor, in 1993, in which 48 people were killed.
He said hills cut beyond their “natural angle” were the ones to watch out for.
“A hill slope that is cut beyond its natural stable angle is not a stable slope. Such slopes are at high risk of failure and can end up in landslides.
“When you have bare slopes like that, the portion of runoff is large; the steeper the slope, the faster the ‘teh tarik’ (mud slide) comes down.
“Basically, when the water runs off faster, the more erosion it causes, and the faster it will go down to lower-lying areas and cause flash floods with silt,” he said.
Aziz said to prevent such disasters from happening, engineers ought to cut hills at a more natural angle and ensure drain holes are built into them.
He said drain holes would release the “water stress” that might be building up beneath the slopes.
Aziz stressed that these measures were not one-off solutions and required constant monitoring from all parties.
“Ordinary folk might think, okay, looks like a nice concrete wall. But you do not know what is going on underneath, and hence, you need to maintain the hillslopes from time to time.
“That is why you see the slopes on our PLUS highway are constantly being maintained. It is something you do not mess around with,” he said.
Aziz said many construction sites cut corners by placing plastic sheets on cut hillslopes, which would not help much in preventing landslides.
“This is akin to putting a band-aid on a very sick person,” he said.
On the Tanjung Bungah landslide, Aziz said the state authorities must beef up their monitoring teams and place them on full patrol at all sites in the state.
“We need all the ‘jabatan’ (departments) to wake up and not sleep behind the wheel. Present-day laws are adequate to enforce and punish those who flout the law.”
Sources: Free Malaysia Today
Penangites upset with DAP reps for skipping dialogue
Front row,
from right) Penang Barisan Nasional chairman Teng Chang Yeow, Pulau
Betong representative Muhammad Farid Saad and state opposition leader
Jahara Hamid at the Penang Forum dialogue on flood woes and hill site
developments. – The Malaysian Insight pic, October 29, 2017.
RESIDENTS associations in Penang today were upset that most of their elected representatives skipped a dialogue on flood woes and hill site developments, as local civil society groups continue to push for a moratorium on hill projects. Penang Forum, a coalition of local civil society groups, had invited the state’s elected reps, but fewer than 10 turned up at the dialogue that drew about 200 people to the Teochew Association in George Town. The assemblymen seen among the crowd were state opposition leader Jahara Hamid (Teluk Air Tawar), Muhammad Farid Saad (Pulau Betong) and Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah (Teluk Bahang) from Barisan Nasional (BN); and Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga), Dr Norlela Ariffin (Penanti) and Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubok) from PKR. Pulau Tikus rep Yap Soo Huey was the sole DAP assemblyman present while the only MP at the dialogue was PKR’s Sim Tze Tzin of Bayan Baru. The only other DAP member present was Penang Island City councillor Syerleena Abdul Razak. Also present were Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow, several Gerakan leaders, and Penang Front Party’s Patrick Ooi, who has been critical of the Penang government in the past. Jahara said the BN reps in the Penang legislative assembly would table a motion to call for all hill land and slope projects to be halted. “We are not here to point fingers, but fingers have to be pointed at the authorities,” she said. Norlela, one of the most vocal PKR reps on local developmental issues, said she hoped Pakatan Harapan and BN could set aside their differences to solve flood woes and developmental issues in the state. Norlela was one of five PKR government backbenchers who abstained from voting to reject a BN motion on land reclamation during the state legislative assembly in November 2015. DAP holds the most seats in the Penang legislative assembly with 19 out of 40. PKR has 10 while PAS has one seat. BN’s Umno holds the remaining 10. In a press conference last week after a landslide in Tanjung Bungah killed 11 construction workers, some residents association reps warned the state government that it could lose votes if it continued to allow hill site developments and ignored the people’s objections. At the dialogue today, the joint residents association rep for Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, K. Suthakar, took a dig at the elected officials when speaking about flood woes in his area. He said Lebuhraya Thean Teik had “turned into a river” when a bad flood hit last month, causing residents to miss work and school. “Why do they become elected reps? Because they want to serve the people, to solve their problems. But after the election, you don’t see them for three or four years. People are crying for help but you have no time to come,” he said. Tanjung Bungah Residents Association chairman Meenakshi Raman also said she had expected more than 10 elected reps to attend the dialogue. “We are disappointed that not many could attend. We had hoped to see more DAP reps,” she said. It was learned that DAP had an internal party programme at the same time this morning on mainland Penang in preparation for the party’s special congress on Nov 12 to re-elect its central leadership committee. Meenakshi said the residents association and other civil groups, which recently criticised the state government over hill site developments and flash flood incidents in Penang, were still willing to engage the powers that be in dialogue. This was despite the association not getting replies to letters it recently sent out to all Penang assemblymen and MPs on its demands to solve flash flood problems. “We are ordinary people. We have nothing against them, but some (leaders) have accused us of being arrogant. Elected reps must be accountable. There is nothing wrong with the people asking the state government and their YBs (assemblymen) what they are doing,” she told The Malaysian Insight after the dialogue.
Climate change Meanwhile, Dr Kam Suan Pheng, an expert in geographical information systems, told the dialogue session that floods in Penang were caused by both weather conditions and human activities, adding that the situation would worsen with climate change. “Since 2003, the emerging trend for rainfall is increasing. Flash floods will be more frequent, happening at lower rainfall thresholds. “With climate change, we can expect heavier and more intense rainfall,” she said, adding that Penang’s urban drainage was not well planned enough to prevent floods. Kam said the authorities must tackle the root causes with proper land use planning and development control, stringent protection of hills and river banks, strict monitoring of development projects, and by increasing the number of urban parks. She said the authorities must also look beyond the environmental, drainage, transportation and social impacts of individual projects, use existing laws and policies and adopt eco-friendly solutions. Aziz Noor – a consultant with more than 30 years’ experience in areas of environment, health and safety in Malaysia and overseas – said Penang should take the recent Lembah Permai landslide as a wake-up call. “Legislative controls are more than adequate but compliance is sporadic. Enforcement has been weak,” said Aziz, who is managing director of Penang-based consulting firm Zeezy Global. Another speaker at the dialogue, lawyer Agatha Foo, said legally, the state should stop development on ecologically-sensitive land over 76m above sea level and on slopes over 25 degrees gradient using existing laws and guidelines. She also said the authorities could impose strict enforcement, and seek a jail sentence for company directors whose firms violate the law as a more effective deterrent than fines. – October 29, 2017.
Clearing and construction for a condo and semi-detached housing
project, Trehaus, reported in http://anilnetto.com/ 26 Aug 2016. Photo
taken in 2014 ...
IJM sign-boards
Behind BJ Cove houses at Lintang Bukit Jambul 1 is an IJM Trehaus Project.
Underground Pipe Culverts from IJM Trehaus site on the left and nearby pond on the right
Two invalid pipe culverts formed sinkholes at BJ Cove houses
Originally, there were two natural rivers/streams from the IJM Trehaus site and a nearby pond. No proper drainage system was implemented when housing development started, only two invalid hidden underground pipe culverts were built to channel the waters from the Bukit Jambul hill to Relau district.
The invalid underground pipe culvert from the IJM Trehaus project directly converged at BJ Cove houses from another invalid underground pipe culvert from a nearby pond were burst, caused soil erosion, house slabs collapsed, multiple wall cracks, PBA water pipe burst, floods, sinkholes (by two pipe culverts converged inred) and damaged to BJ Cove houses due to blockages of waters whenever rains and because of lack of drainage system there. The sinkhole which later converted into a manhole by IJM, is a clear sign of soil erosion under the ground.
It is a common sense that waters from the natural rivers or streams are naturally running, seeped through underground even the surface is covered by land-filled soil or with man made culverts.
Therefore, damages to houses were caused by severe soil erosion due to water movement under the road and buildings.
The following shows the invalid underground pipe culvert from the IJM Trehaus site behind BJ Cove houses at Lintang Bukit Jambul 1:
IJM Underground Pipe Culvert to BJ Cove houses 2018
Waters rising from the IJM Pipe Culvert behind BJ Cove houses 2018
Waters are flowing back from another pipe culvert at IJM site to BJ Cove houses 2018
IJM Underground Pipe Culvert at bottom to BJ Cove houses 2018
IJM modifying/constructing their underground pipe Culvert in 2014 to BJ Cove Houses
IJM modifying/constructing their underground pipe Culvert in 2014 to BJ Cove Houses
IJM Underground Pipe Culvert to BJ Cove Houses
IJM Drains
IJM Drain Waters go to the underground Culvert
IJM Underground Pipe Culvert next to BJ Cove Houses
The above and below show the bottoms of IJM underground pipe culvert
Waters gushing down from IJM Trehaus site to BJ Cove houses:
Waters flow from IJM Trehaus to BJ Cove houses
Waters gushing down from IJM Trehaus site to BJ Cove houses
Waters from IJM site stucked at behind BJ Cove houses
The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID or JPS) has just started in September 2017 constructing the drain from the pond to divert waters:
A drain under construction by JPS to divert waters from the nearby pond
Drain waters flow plan under construction by JPS to divert waters from the nearby pond
Letter from Penang Dept of Irrigation and Drainage (DID or JPS) in 2015 blamed IJM failure to comply with sedement control plan (ESCP) when its Trehaus started in 2014.
Clearly,
the underground pipe culverts leaked and waters seeped through the
ground and multiple cracks, as it did not happen immediately but over a period of time!
Developers dishonored directives/letters issued by Penang City Council (MBPP - Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang) in 2015 to rectify the damaged house
Developers have not completed their committments to rectify the damages despite acknowledged their liability as per letters from Worldwide Venture Sdn Bhd, an subsidiary of IJM Land since 2014!
Despite the underground pipe culverts declared invalid
by JPS and the Penang City Council's (Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang,
i.e. MBPP) issued stop work
orders directing the developers, Worldwide Venture Sdn Bhd, a
subsidiary of IJM Land to rectify the damages within 1 and 2 weeks time
since 2015 (as per the above attached letters), the multiple wall cracks,
slabs
collapsed, PBA water pipes
burst, leakage charges, damaging ceiling, electrical DB board, and tiles
fallen, broken/popped up, are
still pending settlement and remedial works to be carried out by parties
responsible for the damages since 2014 !!
IJM Land only started in December 2017 constructing new drainage to divert waters from Trehaus Site to the pond and underground pipe culverts:
Pictures show IJM only started in December 2017 constructing drainage system to divert waters to the nearby pond and underground pipe culverts
Waters are flowing back to the pond during heavy rain 2018
Waters from IJM site overflown to the pond 2018
For waters to flow out smoothly, the pond must level up with more soils, 2018
Waters in the pond gone up during heavy rain 2018 - must build a wall to prevent waters from seeping thru houses.
Waters cannot move out smoothly due to obstructions which are being removed by a man 2018
It is important that the pond should be made a dried pond instead of existing wet pond on the following reasons:
i) The area was originally a natural river/stream where waters will
still be naturally running, seeped through underground even when the
underground culverts are to be closed/abandoned later.
ii) More waters were being diverted from the IJM site to their underground pipe culvert and to BJ Cove houses.
iii) Now, drain waters from IJM site are being channeled back to IJM pipe culvert to BJ Cove houses at Lintang Bukit Jambul 1 where a manhole next to house no. 20 constructed by IJM is not closed despite it has been declared invalid and illegal by JPS! This poses concerns to residents at BJ Cove houses.
IJM Drain water Pipe Culvert Site to BJ Cove houses
IJM Drain water Pipe Culvert Site to BJ Cove houses
Waters stuck behind BJ Cove houses at IJM site 2018
IJM Drain waters gushing down to pipe culvert
Sinkhole at house 20 is covered up by IJM's underground pipe culvert from IJM Trehaus
The damaged houses are still pending, not being completely rectified to date !
Damages appeared after IJM began construction works in 2014, like hill clearing, rock-blasting, piling and digging culvert at Trehaus site. As a result, sinkholes appeared, floods, waters seepage through multiple cracks on the ground, walls, tiles fallen from roofs and popped up from the ground due to vibration from rock-blasting and piling works.
Sinkhole converted to manholes (2 in cycles) at BJ Cove houses are visible from the top of IJM Trehasu site
Pictures showing floods, sinkholes at Lintang Bukit Jambul 1, 11900 Penang, damaged to BJ Cove houses, cracks, waters leakages seeped through the cracks, slabs collapsed, ceilings & tiles broken & fallen, electrical DB board explosion, etc caused by severe soil erosion due to water movement under the road and buildings. The underground pipe leaked and waters seeped through the cracks!
A big Sinkhole near BJ Cove house no. 20
IJM converted the sinkhole into a manhole waters from their underground pipe culvert at Trehaus
These are IJM Manhole converted from Sinkhole:
Sinkhole at house 20 is covered up by IJM's underground pipe culvert from IJM Trehaus
IJM converting the Sinkhole into Manhole next to BJ Cove no. 20
Outside house drain and fence damaged by IJM during mitigation of Sinkhole
A big Sinkhole occurred due to invalid underground pipes culverts choked near house no. 20
Waters at the underground pipe culverts flown out from the house No. 20 to outside drain
Slabs collapsed due to cracks without compacted hardcore
We demand immediate enforcement & Actions to complete the remedial works:
1. The parties responsible must quickly without further
delays, without condition to settle the claims and start the remedial works to the damaged
houses, as both JPS has declared underground pipe culverts invalid and
MBPP has issued stop work orders directed the developers, Worldwide
Venture Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of IJM Land to rectify the damages within 1
and 2 weeks time since 2015!
2. Enforce IJM's & MBPP' Letters/Stop-work Orders (attached in above), and divert waters from the two invalid underground pipe
culverts deemed illegal at the IJM Trehaus site and nearby
ponds which must be closed and grouted as a long term solution to the problems.
3.Enforce a fresh cease and desist to Stop Work of IJM Trehaus
construction project until the structural damages to house at 20
Lintang Bukit Jambul 1, BJ Cove have been resolved and settled the claim
for damages and distress caused by the fear and danger of living in the
house, without further delays and their suffering more than four years since
2014. Repairs and remedial works must start promptly as more damages and suffering will fellow!
4. Beef up the enforcement and accountability not just in government agencies but also in professional bodies, like theBoard Of Engineers Malaysia (BEM), the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), etc to uphold the professional ethics, integrity and standards, to ensure public safety of the buildings and people life.
5. The pond must be made a Dried pond for waters to flow out smoothly, because there was originally two natural rivers/streams in the area where waters will still be running/seeping through naturally under the ground.
6. Now, drain waters from IJM site are being channeled back their underground pipe
culvert flowing to BJ Cove houses at Lintang Bukit Jambul 1 where a manhole next
to house no. 20 constructed by IJM is not closed despite it has been declared invalid and illegal by JPS! This is a great
concern to residents at BJ Cove houses. We want JPS and MPPP to close & grout the manhole promptly.
7. Damaged house owners firmly reserve all their rights to take all
necessary legal steps against those responsible exclusion their liabilities.
Findings from Penang Forum
Dr Kam, a scientist, focused on expansion of impermeable surface area
(caused by ill planned development and replacing natural ground cover
such as hills, fields and trees that act as a water absorbing sponge)
and soil erosion and landslides (caused by cutting and development in
hill areas) as two factors that need special attention.
She
quoted Datuk Kam U Tee, the Penang Water Authority general manager
(1973~90), as having correctly explained the Penang floods of October
2008, as follows: the floods were caused by conversion of the Paya
Terubong and Bayan Baru valleys into “concrete aprons that do not retain
water. The water immediately flows into streams causing flash floods
even with moderate rainfall. Because of hillcutting activities, the
flowing water causes erosion of the slopes which carries mud and silt
into the river beds”. ( The Star, Oct 24, 2008).
Credits
- Slides presented by Environmental, health and safety consultant
Aziz Noor, and scientist Dr Kam Suan Pheng at the Penang Forum event on Oct 29, 2017
Penang government must provide a COMPETENT flood mitigation plan for the state starting with a comprehensive Drainage Master Plan Study and not slogan.
The Penang government has to be ACCOUNTABLE to the people and not private developers. In other words, ‘Politicians should be ‘wakil rakyat’ and not ‘wakil pemaju’. If certain waterways and catchment areas have to be gazetted as permanent drainage and storage areas, then so be it.
The safety and well-being of the Rakyat has to come first. In the
interest of TRANSPARENCY, Penang has to launch an inquiry into how the
local council approved property developments on slopes
without adequate slope protection.
Sep 16, 2017 - ... Noor Afidah Yahunas, 30, who fell from her motorcycle into a culvert in ... by rescuers in a river near Bukit Jambul about 7.45am today, nearly 24 ... to lose balance and fall off, before she was swept away by strong currents.
Kudos to Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin for holding the four parties accountable for the Bukit Kukus landslide
tragedy. The inquiry still begs a lot of questions, e.g. why was the
contract given to Yuta Maju from Terengganu? Could the accident have
been prevented if a proper EIA was done? It is not just a "bureaucratic
hurdle" but supposed to identify risks and advise mitigation. If the
authorities wish to go on with the project, it is not too late to
commissi... See more
“This
is no simple incident as nine deaths resulted from it. Very stern
action must be taken against the MBPP, and that includes strong
disciplinary action against the mayor and officers responsible.
“Otherwise, it will be business-as-usual in the MBPP as the officers will be allowed to go scot-free with impunity.
https://youtu.be/ooyXvqmxbvw GEORGE TOWN: Some 20 houses located on a slope in Hong Seng Estate in Mount Erskine were flooded due
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