Paya Terubong Landslide: Four Houses Ordered Vacated For Safety Reasons - Exco Member

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Four houses near the site of a landslide in Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong, have been ordered to be temporarily vacated as a safety precaution, said state executive councillor H'ng Mooi Lye.

He said evacuation notices had been issued to the affected residents pending discussions with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).

A meeting with DOSH is scheduled to be held at Komtar this Monday to obtain an update on the investigation and determine follow-up action regarding the incident, said H’ng, who is State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman,  

Speaking at a press conference here today, H'ng said DOSH conducted an investigation at the site a day after the incident to identify its cause.

DOSH is expected to call in all relevant parties to obtain a clearer picture before determining appropriate action if there were elements of negligence or failure to comply with regulations, he said.

In the incident at 8.36 am last Sunday, Dr Wong Kar Lin, 73, died after being buried in a landslide that affected his home.

H’ng said the developer of a nearby project had been instructed to immediately implement mitigation measures to reduce the risk of a recurrence of landslides, particularly during heavy rain.

This includes covering exposed sections of the slope with geotextiles to reduce rainwater infiltration into the soil.

He said a pump and piping system had also been provided to channel water from the upper hillside to an open drain to prevent water from pooling or overflowing onto the slope.

Commenting on claims that slope stabilisation works had been carried out twice between 2018 and 2026, he said the works were implemented as a safety measure before road construction began.

-- BERNAMA