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.
Penang Gerakan chief Oh Tong Keong said the authorities must determine whether there had been negligence or wrongdoing in approving and monitoring the project, particularly as residents had raised objections years before it was approved.
He called on the Penang government to immediately halt all hillside developments in the state pending a comprehensive review of their compliance with safety requirements and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
"We ask the Penang government to stop all projects first, then form a committee to survey and check whether developers have followed the SOPs for land development in Penang," he added.
Oh also urged the police, state government and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to investigate the project's approval and disclose their findings to the public.
He questioned why the case was being investigated as a sudden death report (SDR), saying the probe should also examine the approval process and whether proper safeguards had been followed.
Yesterday, police said the death of Dr Wong Kar Lin, 73, in the landslide remained under investigation as an SDR.
This was despite a post-mortem finding that he died from blunt-force trauma and breathing difficulties.
When contacted, Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim reiterated that the case was being investigated as an SDR.
"How can we guarantee the safety of our people in Penang if these projects are still running?" Oh said.
He said residents had protested against the project in October 2017, citing concerns over hillside development and water flowing down the slope during heavy rain.
Despite their objections, the project was approved, and an appeal was subsequently pursued, he added.
Oh said that residents had continued to raise concerns but felt powerless after the authorities gave the project the green light.
He said the state government should review ongoing and approved hillside projects to determine whether developers had complied with the required safety measures.
He also questioned why the authorities had issued reminders to the developer to monitor the project and whether recent inspections had uncovered any issues.
Oh called for a transparent report detailing the number of hillside projects operating in Penang and whether they posed risks to nearby residents.
He said the issue was not about rejecting all development, but ensuring public safety and accountability, particularly in densely populated areas where homes were close to steep slopes.
The New Straits Times has contacted MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran for comment and is awaiting his response.
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