Instead of shirking responsibility, Penang govt should answer all public queries on landslide

MCA Penang is disheartened by the Penang state government’s move of diverting attention, and passing the buck over the Tanjung Bungah landslide tragedy.

No one can deny that Tanjung Bungah landslide is among the most serious tragedies occurred so far. It is only fair for the Penang state government to answer all public queries surrounding the landslide tragedy.

The core problem now is how and why this project could and did proceed, even after being rejected by the federal-run Department of Environment (DOE)? When the landslide tragedy struck, Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng did not own up to his mistakes, but tried to pass the buck to contractors. If only he had listened to the DOE’s advice, then this landslide tragedy could have been avoided.

After being pestered by different quarters, and with several information leakages online, the Penang state government has more and more doubts to clear. The people want a complete explanation from the Penang state government.

According to the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar, the Penang state government has its own safety guideline for hillslope development, and has refused to use that of the federal government. The Penang state government’s justification is that the geographical condition of Penang is different from other states. The Safety Guideline for Hillsite Development 2012 is preferred as it is said to be more detailed. Then the Penang state government must come up with the evidence and not giving empty talk.

In fact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has found that the listed areas for development is not safe to be inhabited. But the Penang state government still unanimously approved and carried out the project. Thus the state government must explain why it did not comply with the DOE’s suggestion? Why continue the project despite objections from the DOE?

The third question we have to ask is that, whether such a project received ‘special treatment’ for it to be approved? This was revealed by Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications (BNSC) deputy director Eric See-To, who is puzzled with the Penang state government’s final decision of approving the project, even with objections from the DOE and the State Planning Committee (SPC).

Instead of shirking responsibility, the Penang state government should answer to the people, not drag TAR University College into the turmoil. This is only an attempt to policitise education and divert attention from the incident.

The landslide tragedy resulted in 11 deaths, these were all innocent lives. I call on Lim Guan Eng and the Penang state government to stop diverting attention, politicking, and give an explanation to the victims’ families responsibly.

Datuk Tan Teik Cheng
MCA Penang State Liaison Committee Chairman

-MCA Online-