Take responsibility, stop hillslope development, return our third vote!

Press Statement by Agora Society on 25 Oct 2018

We remained saddened by the latest tragic landslide that happened at Bukit Kukus, Penang Island on19th October. A total of 9 bodies have been recovered and 4 are still missing thus far. We stand together with other fellow Penangites in the vigil for the victims who lost their lives, Malaysian and non-Malaysians alike, unnecessarily. We offer our deepest condolences for the families who are now left devastated without their father, mother or loved ones. Days have passed but, regrettably, not a single party or authority has taken responsibility for what had happened in the latest episode –did anyone in power ever say ‘Sorry’ to the affected families?

This tragic news came barely one week after the news that a worksite ‘mishap’ and structural collapse occurred at the same site, followed by a stop work order issued on 11th Oct. Unfortunately, it was reported that the contractor still went on their operation probably until 19th Oct. Clearly the weak enforcement was also a big issue. The contractor who went against the order must be named and shamed and, should the case be established, be made to face the most severe possible legal punishment.

This tragic incident reminds us of the landslide at the Granito construction worksite at Tanjung Bungah almost a year ago, which shares some similarities in that the authorities had failed utterly in their duty to ‘monitor’ and ‘control’ the soil erosion and slope integrity.