THERE were no signs of further slope failure at a construction site at Taman Seri Rambai in Paya Terubong after the rain stopped and a water pipe was diverted to a safer location following a slope incident.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the council had issued a stop-work order to the developer, who was also instructed to carry out mitigation works to improve safety at the site.
He said the incident would be investigated by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) also possibly involved.
“However, we remain cautious as continuous rain could further weaken the surrounding soil,” he told reporters after the council meeting today.
Rajendran said some soil movement had been observed after the incident, but there were no signs of an impending slope collapse after the rain stopped and the water pipe was diverted.
“We still need to take precautionary measures to ensure that the incident does not happen again,” he said.
He said MBPP would continue monitoring the site and work with the relevant agencies during the investigation, which could take at least three months, depending on the circumstances.
Rajendran said the return of residents from six affected houses would be determined in consultation with the investigating authorities, while the Land Office was handling their temporary relocation.
“The three months is only an estimate of the usual time needed for an investigation. It depends on the case and the circumstances,” he said.
The incident comes after a landslide at Taman Seri Rambai in Paya Terubong on Sunday (Oct 25) claimed the life of 73-year-old doctor Wong Kar Lin.
Wong was buried under debris when the slope behind his two-storey semi-detached house collapsed. His wife, Chang Mei Nuo, 68, and mother-in-law, Wong Poh Lim, who is in her 80s, managed to escape.
Following the incident, residents of six nearby houses were asked to evacuate as a safety precaution. The cause of the landslide remains under investigation.
On a separate landslide in Tanjung Bungah involving two cars, Rajendran said it was not caused by ongoing construction work but involved an existing slope that had deteriorated.
He said October was typically one of the wettest months of the year due to the inter-monsoon period, when continuous rainfall could cause water to seep into the soil and weaken slopes.
“Although the rain may not be very heavy, continuous rainfall can weaken the soil,” he said.
Rajendran said MBPP had issued notices to construction sites, contractors and developers in September, reminding them to take precautions and improve safety measures during the wet season.
He added that the council’s engineers had also been conducting site inspections with consultants to ensure slope safety.
On residents’ claims that they had previously lodged complaints about the slope, Rajendran said MBPP had a WhatsApp group with residents to receive reports and address issues at the site promptly.
He said complaints received had been forwarded to the developer, who had been instructed to improve safety and ensure proper monitoring of the construction work.
The developer was complying with the instructions at present, he added.
Story by Edmund Lee