Penang MCA has asked how many landslides need to occur in the state before the state government wakes up to the problems of over-development of the hills there.

Its state liaison committee chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said the state government must start taking this issue more seriously, and investigate the root cause of the landslide as quickly as possible.

"Is it truly an accident, or is it due to uncontrolled developments? The Penang government has always handled development in a most authoritarian way, disregarding the voices of its people and various NGOs," he said in a statement on Saturday (Oct 20).

He added that the state government should ensure erosion mitigation works are done and that contractors are following the standard operating procedures as well as having safeguards to protect the public.

He said the previous tragedy in Tanjung Bungah ought to have already been a painful lesson and precursor to start addressing the perpetual issue of uncontrolled development of slopes.

"Though natural disasters can't be mitigated completely, it is still your duty as government to take provisions to reduce the probability to its lowest by installing a culture of accountability and supervising responsibility," he said.

A landslide at a construction site in Bukit Kukus, Paya Terubong on Friday (Oct 19) has resulted in four workers being killed and others missing. 

-The Star-