Chant probes SCI to publish hill slope safety protocols

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) has urged the State Commission of Inquiry (SCI) to complete the study regarding the hill slope development issues as well as the safety recommendations to be released.

Chant advisor Yan Lee said that the studies conducted by SCI should publish the safety recommendations for the hill slope development and have the Penang government to implement them for the safety of the public.

Due to the Bukit Kukus landslide incident which occurred two months ago, Yan Lee urged the safety protocols for any hill slope development to be implemented as soon as possible.

“It has already been six months since the SCI has completed the enquiry on the Tanjung Bungah landslide and the SCI hearing chaired by Yeo Tang Poh has already been conducted,” he told the media, here today.

On Oct 19, a landslide was reported to have occurred at the Bukit Kukus Twin Highway project construction site, in which nine were killed and four injured. The incident, which took place at 1.56 pm, also engulfed 13 containers and a ‘kongsi’ house.

Another disaster at the site of an affordable housing project at Lengkok Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah last year, killed 11 workers.

Meanwhile, Yan Lee also hoped that the Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum would set up a special environmental court in the Peninsular Malaysia.

The environmental court hears any environment-related cases at the Magistrate, Sessions and High Court levels and dispose of them within four weeks.

“Tan Sri Richard Malanjun has already set up the court for Sabah and Sarawak since 2015, and I hope that he can set up another one in the Peninsular to address  environmental-related issues here,” he said.

-- BERNAMA