Heads must roll over fatal landslide, police must probe project
GEORGE TOWN: Heads must roll and police must investigate the approval of a hillside development project linked to Sunday’s fatal landslide that killed a doctor.
George Town authorities face calls to investigate and potentially punish those involved in the approval of a hillside development project that caused a fatal landslide on Sunday, which killed doctor Dr Wong Kar Lin. Penang Gerakan chief Oh Tong Keong demands that the government suspend all hillside developments in the state while a thorough review is conducted to ensure compliance with safety standards and operating procedures.
He urges police, the state government, and the Penang Island City Council to look into the project's approval process and release findings to the public, questioning why the case is being treated as a sudden death report (SDR). Oh cites residents' previous objections to the project in October 2017, and the ongoing concerns despite the project's approval and subsequent appeal.
He questions why authorities gave the project the green light and whether recent inspections have uncovered any safety issues. The state government should review existing and approved hillside projects to determine if developers followed required safety measures, according to Oh, who questions why the authorities issued reminders to the developer and if inspections have revealed any problems.
He calls for transparency regarding the number of hillside projects operating in Penang and their potential risks to nearby residents, emphasizing the need for public safety and accountability, especially in densely populated areas near steep slopes.
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