GEORGE TOWN: PKR’s Kebun Bunga assemblyman Ong Khan Lee has proposed to the Penang government to set up a Civil and Geotechnical Engineering Commission to monitor landslide-risk projects.
He said this follows two deadly landslides which happened within a year, at Bukit Kukus and Tanjung Bungah, killing nine and 11 people respectively.
“The commission will report directly to the State Legislative Assembly and/or the Dewan Rakyat, which should be headed by a building surveyor. The commission should consist of public engineers and professionals qualified to issue stop work orders, mitigations, rectifications and others,” he said while debating on the 2019 Supply Bill in today’s sitting.
“This commission should also issue Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the required criteria for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) and others deemed suitable.
“It should also be equipped with the Geographical Information System (GIS) to prepare landslide and flood hazard mapping. This should be made as a pilot project in this Pearl of the Orient.”
Nine site workers were killed while four others sustained injuries in the landslide at the Bukit Kukus paired road project site on Oct 19.
Meanwhile, 11 construction workers, including a local worker, were killed in the affordable housing project site at Lengkok Lembah Permai, near Tanjung Bungah, on Oct 21 last year.
While debating on the Supply Bill, Ong also proposed a full exemption on premium for developers of affordable housing projects on the island as an effort to reduce the prices of homes.
“Premium exemption at appropriate rates can also be given to developers of affordable homes in Seberang Perai.
“The state government should also integrate the Housing Information System and Big Data at public sphere to reduce the percentage of ineligible buyers and allow them to purchase the medium cost and affordable homes,” he added.