Penang DOSH to probe cause of fatal Paya Terubong landslide, developer told to submit documents

The Penang Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is investigating a landslide at Taman Seri Rambai in Paya Terubong, focusing on safety, construction, and regulatory compliance.

The investigation involves collaboration with the developer, contractors, and consultants to determine the cause of the incident and propose mitigation measures.

DOSH has requested Pre-Construction Information from the developer before starting any site mitigation work, following a landslide that resulted in a fatality on October 25.

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 4 — The Penang Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is conducting an investigation to determine the actual cause of the landslide at Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong, covering aspects such as safety, construction, and regulatory compliance.

State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the investigation includes gathering information and statements from the developer, contractors, and consultants involved in the development project on the slope near the site of the incident.

“The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) held discussions yesterday (Nov 3) with civil and geotechnical consulting engineers, the developer, and the contractor to investigate and understand the root cause of the incident covering aspects of safety, construction, design, and compliance with relevant regulations as well as to propose appropriate mitigation measures and site stabilization efforts.

“DOSH has requested that the developer submit Pre-Construction Information (PCI) documentation before commencing any mitigation work on-site,” he said when winding the debate on the Supply Bill and the 2027 Development Expenditure Estimates (State Budget 2027) at the State Legislative Assembly sitting today.

In the incident on October 25, a doctor, Dr Wong Kar Lin, 73, died after being buried in a landslide that affected his home, while his wife, Chang Mei Nuo, 68, and his mother-in-law, Wong Poh Lim (in her 80s), managed to escape safely.

Elaborating further, H’ng said the approved 35-story affordable housing project near the site does not exceed the 76-metre (250-foot) contour line while infrastructure development such as roads and utilities is permitted, subject to strict conditions outlined in the geotechnical report approved by the Committee for Development on Risky Land on April 10, 2023.

Additionally, he explained that the development approval for the site dates back to 1996, when the initial developer submitted an application for a proposed project consisting of medium-cost apartments and townhouses.

The planning permission application subsequently underwent several changes in terms of the developer and the proposed development plan before... The application for planning permission for the development of the affordable housing project was submitted in 2023.

“I wish to emphasise here that all decisions made were collective decisions of the government not merely the decision of the Chief Minister, but rather those of the State Authority and the Local Authority,” he stated.

In response to a query from Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff (PN-Sungai Dua), who interjected to urge the establishment of a State Commission of Inquiry (SCI) to investigate the cause of the tragedy, H’ng said the state government would first defer the investigation process to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) before considering such a measure.

He explained that the relevant documentation must be examined by DOSH, with technical advice sought from the Engineering Department of the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) specifically regarding geotechnical aspects to ensure that the proposed mitigation works are appropriate, before any further action is taken.

Previously, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow asserted that the landowner and the developer of the condominium project must be held accountable, including regarding legal implications and the implementation of mitigation works to ensure the safety of the area affected by the landslide. — Bernama

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槟城职业安全与健康局 (DOSH) 正在调查巴耶特鲁邦 Taman Seri Rambai 发生的山体滑坡事件，重点关注安全、施工和法规遵从性。

调查涉及与开发商、承包商和顾问的合作，以确定事故原因并提出缓解措施。

10 月 25 日发生山体滑坡造成一人死亡后，职业安全与健康部 (DOSH) 要求开发商提供施工前信息，然后再开始任何场地缓解工作。

乔治市，11月4日讯——槟城职业安全与健康局（DOSH）正在对巴耶特鲁邦斯里兰拜花园发生的山体滑坡进行调查，以确定其真正的原因，调查内容涵盖安全、建筑和监管合规等方面。

州地方政府及城乡规划委员会主席洪美来表示，调查包括收集事发地点附近山坡开发项目的开发商、承包商和顾问的信息和证词。

“职业安全与健康部 (DOSH) 昨天（11 月 3 日）与土木和岩土工程咨询工程师、开发商和承包商举行了讨论，以调查和了解事故的根本原因，涵盖安全、施工、设计和遵守相关法规等方面，并提出适当的缓解措施和场地稳定工作。

“职业安全与健康局已要求开发商在开始任何现场缓解工作之前提交施工前信息（PCI）文件，”他在今天州立法议会会议上总结关于供应法案和 2027 年发展支出估算（2027 年州预算）的辩论时说道。

10 月 25 日发生的这起事件中，73 岁的黄嘉林医生被山体滑坡掩埋身亡，而他的妻子 68 岁的张美诺和岳母 80 多岁的黄宝琳则安全逃生。

H'ng进一步解释说，获批的该地附近35层高的经济适用房项目不会超过76米（250英尺）等高线，同时允许进行道路和公用设施等基础设施建设，但须遵守2023年4月10日由风险土地发展委员会批准的地质技术报告中概述的严格条件。

此外，他还解释说，该地块的开发许可可以追溯到 1996 年，当时最初的开发商提交了一份申请，拟建项目包括中等价位的公寓和联排别墅。

在提交经济适用房项目开发规划许可申请之前，开发商和拟议开发计划方面经历了多次变更……该规划许可申请于2023年提交。

“我想在此强调，所有做出的决定都是政府的集体决定，不仅仅是首席部长个人的决定，而是州政府和地方政府的决定，”他说道。

针对穆罕默德·法兹·尤索夫（国盟-双溪杜亚）的提问，他插话敦促成立州调查委员会（SCI）调查这起悲剧的原因，洪表示，州政府将首先把调查程序移交给职业安全与健康局（DOSH），然后再考虑采取这样的措施。

他解释说，在采取任何进一步行动之前，必须由职业安全与健康局 (DOSH) 审查相关文件，并向槟城岛市政局 (MBPP) 工程部寻求技术建议，特别是关于岩土工程方面，以确保拟议的缓解措施是适当的。

此前，首席部长曹观友曾强调，必须追究土地所有者和公寓项目开发商的责任，包括法律责任以及为确保山体滑坡灾区安全而采取的缓解措施。——马新社

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