Bukit Kukus Landslide Likely Caused By Worksite Safety Flaws Says Cm

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Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow with representatives of five independent Chinese schools at Komtar today.GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government today attributed the Bukit Kukus landslide to “worksite safety flaws” after receiving two comprehensive reports on the incident which occurred on Oct 19 last year
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the government was awaiting a further report from the Department of Safety and Health (DOSH) before deciding on action to be taken against the contractors and others involved
This includes “follow-up” action and a decision on whether to retain or replace the project contractors
“We cannot take further steps until DOSH decides,” he said during a press conference at Komtar today
“We will see what they have to say first. They have placed a stop-work order on the site. I have instructed the state secretary to contact them
“Our hope is that the project can continue.”Chow added that the two reports received so far are from the Penang Island City Council and the special investigation committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman
The landslide, which occurred at the site of an elevated road project near Air Itam, saw nine killed and four injured. According to DOSH, at least 42,000 tonnes of earth fell on 12 container cabins housing 13 foreign workers — the equivalent of 2,000 10-wheel lorries falling on the cabins
The incident brought national scrutiny to the issue of hillside development in the state
At the press conference today, Chow also announced that his Chinese New Year open house will be held on the second day of the new year on Feb 6
Governor Abdul Rahman Abbas will be the guest of honour at the event, which will be held at the Spice Arena in Bayan Lepas from 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng will hold his open house in Penang as well, on the first day of Chinese New Year which is Feb 5. It will be held at the same venue from 10.30am to 12.30pm
Chow also gave RM2 million to five independent Chinese schools today to help with infrastructure repairs and salaries for teachers, among others. - FMT

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