'Bukit Kukus checked before tragedy'

GEORGE TOWN: Penang followed standard operating procedures on hillslope development, said state infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.
In responding to allegations by members of civil societies group Penang Forum that the state did not act on complaints lodged over soil erosion at the Bukit Kukus landslide site, Zairil said after a complaint was lodged on Sept 28 by the Penang Hill Watch group, the state formed a task force and initiated "Ops Lumpur" to check on erosion and sedimentation.
Two weeks later, the task force reported to the state Erosion and Sedimentation Control Committee on the areas inspected and notices were issued to some contractors there to conduct remedial works.
Subsequently, the Penang Island City Council was instructed to issue compound notices to the errant contractors.
On Oct 13, a "localised stop-work order" was issued and on Oct 17, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health issued a full stop work order.
The landslide occurred on Oct 19.
Zairil said Ops Lumpur found that the top portion of the landslide area in Jalan Bukit Kukus was partially exposed and there were streams that ran through the area.