DOSH approves emergency mitigation works at Penang landslide site

The Penang department of occupational safety and health (DOSH) has given permission to the developer’s civil engineer to carry out emergency mitigation works and slope stabilisation at the construction site involved in the landslide at Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong, here.

State local government and town and country planning committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said permission was granted after DOSH received the complete documentation and official application from Aptitude Consulting Engineers Sdn Bhd yesterday.

“The mitigation works approved by DOSH include emergency surface drainage mitigation measures and slope stabilisation at the landslide area (Zone 1), as well as preventive stabilisation works on the exposed cut slopes at the construction site.

“The mitigation works are expected to take between four and five months to complete,” he said in a statement today.

However, H’ng said the implementation of the works remained subject to approval and permission from other relevant agencies.

He said the developer and contractor had been reminded to adhere strictly with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, as well as all regulations, requirements and directives issued by the relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, the residents of the four evacuated houses will not be allowed to return home until mitigation works in Zone 1 have been fully completed and certified safe by a geotechnical engineer.

The Penang Island City Council previously issued an immediate stop-work order for the condominium and road construction project on the slope near the incident site to facilitate investigations.

A 73-year-old man, Dr Wong Kar Lin, died after being buried in the landslide that struck his home on Oct 25. His wife, Chang Mei Nuo, 68, and his mother-in-law, Wong Poh Lim, who is in her 80s, managed to escape.