Paya Terubong Landslide: DOSH Approves Emergency Mitigation Works

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The Penang Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has given permission to the developer’s civil engineer to carry out emergency mitigation works and slope stabilisation at the construction site involved in the landslide incident at Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong here.

State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the permission was granted after DOSH received the complete documentation and official application from Aptitude Consulting Engineers Sdn Bhd yesterday.

“The mitigation works approved by DOSH include emergency surface drainage mitigation measures and slope stabilisation at the landslide area (Zone 1), as well as preventive stabilisation works on the exposed cut slopes at the construction site.

“The mitigation works are expected to take between four and five months to complete,” he said in a statement today.

However, H’ng said the implementation of the works remained subject to approval and permission from other relevant agencies.

He said the developer and contractor had been reminded to adhere strictly with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, as well as all regulations, requirements and directives issued by the relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, H’ng said residents of the four evacuated houses are still not allowed to return home until all mitigation works in Zone 1 have been fully completed and certified safe by a geotechnical engineer.

On Tuesday (Nov 10), H’ng reported that DOSH was still awaiting complete documentation and an official application from the developer's civil engineer before considering proposed mitigation and slope repair works.

Previously, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) issued an immediate stop-work order on the condominium and road construction project on the slope near the incident site to facilitate investigations.

In the incident on Oct 25, a 73-year-old doctor, Dr Wong Kar Lin, died after being buried in a landslide that struck his home. His wife, Chang Mei Nuo, 68, and his mother-in-law, Wong Poh Lim, who is in her 80s, managed to escape.

-- BERNAMA