TTF: The Lim Guan Eng’s administration repeated attempts to ‘tai chi’ the Tanjung Bungah landslide tragedy with stupid excuses is appalling. The fact that the state ignored warnings by the DoE and allowed the project to go on reeks of ignorance and mismanagement. Guan Eng has blood on his hands. Following is what the honourable Wee Ka Siong had to say regarding an excuse floated by the Chief Minister to wash his hands off the manslaughter.
PETALING JAYA: The Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR College) campus in Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Penang consists of only low-rise buildings and not 50-storey high rise buildings, said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
In rebutting allegations by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said that during the college’s construction, there were no landslides as the appointed contractor and consultants strictly followed the guidelines.
“Now Taruc has been in operation for more than 20 years, there isn’t any complaints regarding the slope instability or landslide,” Dr Wee said in a statement on Monday.
The National Resources and Environment Ministry said the project was rejected by the Department of Environment in 2015 as it was located close to a quarry, but Lim said that the college and a housing scheme were located much closer to the quarry.
Wee also blasted Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister P. Ramasamy for saying that the proposed development site is on flat land.
Wee said that Ramasamy hid the fact that the surrounding area was not flat.
“Surely the landslide can only occur due to the soil movement from the top. The word ‘slide’ means from top to bottom,” said Wee.
On Saturday (Oct 21), tonnes of laterite earth slid down from a cut slope at the Lengkok Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah construction site at about 8.30am and claimed the lives of 11 people.
Source: The Star Online
