SLOPE stability at Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong, George Town is reported to be stable following the completion of work to relocate water pipelines to a safer area on Sunday.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said that, thus far, there are no signs of further ground movement.
However, he noted that the authorities have emphasised the necessity of continued close monitoring and safety measures, given that persistent rainfall could potentially compromise the stability of the slope.
"We must remain vigilant to prevent a recurrence of such an incident," he said after chairing the Council’s 11th Ordinary Meeting for the year 2026, today.
A landslide, which occurred at 8.36 am yesterday, claimed the life of Dr Wong Kar Lin, 73, who was buried under debris when the slope behind his house collapsed.
His wife, Chang Mei Nuo, 68, and mother-in-law, Wong Poh Lim, in her 80s, managed to escape.
Following the incident, Rajendran said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has taken firm action by issuing a stop-work order to the developer, while also mandating the implementation of mitigation measures to reduce safety risks in the affected zone.
He added that a detailed investigation will be conducted by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) also highly likely to be involved in the inquiry.
According to him, the MBPP is continuing its monitoring at the site to ascertain the actual conditions in the affected area.
"The investigation process is expected to take at least three months, depending on the situation on-site and the findings from expert inspections.
"However, this does not mean that displaced residents must wait for the investigation to be fully concluded before they are allowed to return home," he explained.
He added that the official decision regarding safety, to determine when residents can return to their homes, will be made in consultation with the investigators, while the management of their temporary accommodation is being handled by the Land Office.
Commenting on another landslide incident in Tanjung Bungah that left two vehicles buried, he clarified that the event was unrelated to development activities; rather, it was caused by structural issues with the existing slope.
Rajendran explained that the monsoon transition, which has brought continuous heavy rainfall, has allowed water to seep into the ground, weakening the slope's stability and increasing the likelihood of a collapse.
In light of this, he noted that the MBPP has issued a reminder to all contractors and developers since last September to tighten their standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety measures at construction sites, given the current high-risk weather season. – October 26, 2026