Tanjong Bunga Residents' Association: 10/01/2017

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Penang Forum 8: Dialogue on floods – a call to action (videos)

Representatives from all parties turned up for Penang Forum 8. Excellent presentations from a few of the presenters.

A few of those who spoke from the floor may have tried to score political points. But check out the informative slide presentations on the causes of the floods – and landslides – and what can be done to prevent them in future.

Watch at least 4 videos of presentations and speeches here:
http://anilnetto.com/economy/development-issues/penang-forum-8-dialogue-floods-call-action-videos/

Friday, October 27, 2017

RESPONSE OF TBRA TO PENANG STATE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON TANJUNG BUNGAH LANDSLIDE TRAGEDY

PRESS RELEASE 27 OCTOBER 2017

RESPONSE OF TBRA TO PENANG STATE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON TANJUNG BUNGAH LANDSLIDE TRAGEDY

The Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association (TBRA) welcomes the proposal by the Penang State Government to set up a Commission of Inquiry (SCI) to investigate the landslide that took place on 21 October at Lengkok Lembah Permai that killed 11 people.

We ask that the SCI be open to the public to ensure transparency in view of the public interest involved, and that it also allows the full participation and engagement of all stakeholders, including TBRA.

On the terms of reference of the SCI, we are glad to note that it includes the

project approval process and procedures to see if they were in accordance with guidelines.

We hope that this will also include not only the relevant guidelines but also laws related to the granting of planning and other approvals, as well as monitoring and enforcement aspects with a view to improving them.

This must also include a review of the guidelines on ‘hill site development 2012’, as well as in ensuring sufficient capacity exists in the relevant authorities to effectively monitor and enforce any conditions imposed.

On the TOR which calls for a re-examination of “other matters related to the project including if the project was built on flat land or on a hillslope and to determine if the quarry site was the reason for the failure of the temporary work site slope,” we wish to state that what is also material is an examination of the characteristics and overall conditions at the site and its surroundings, including the state of the site prior to the granting of planning approval and the changes made to the natural terrain.

Developments on Hill Lands

On a separate note, TBRA also welcomes the statement of YB Jagdeep Singh Deo that the State Government will continue to prohibit any new high-rise development on lands above 76 metres (250 feet) above sea level.

The YB referred to the policy in the Penang Structure Plan as regards the protection of hill lands which are above 76 m above sea level.

In this regard however, we are perplexed by how the MBPP had in 2012, approved the construction of 600 units comprising high-rise apartments and bungalows on hill lands covering 80 acres which are above 76 metres above sea level of which, approximately 43% of which are on slopes exceeding a gradient of 25 degrees for the Sunway City project in Sungei Ara, Penang.

In fact, we are shocked to learn that the State Authority had approved in 2011 an application by the developer to remove the ‘hill land’ status of the lands under the Land Conservation Act 1960.

The MBPP relied on the 2009 Guidelines for ‘Special Projects’ to allow the Sungei Ara project.

These actions completely defy the State Government’s stance that hill lands must be protected.

In order to prevent a repeat of this and to respect the policies in the Penang Structure Plan as regards hill land, the State government must now do the following immediately:

revise or redefine what are ‘special projects’ in the 2009 guidelines in order to explicitly prohibit any future development on hill lands except for essential public amenities.
It must also stop approving any further applications for excision of the status of ‘hill lands’ from the Land Conservation Act 1960.

We also call on the State and the MBPP to also monitor all developments on hill lands and hillslopes in Penang and take immediate measures to ensure the safety of those living at the foothills of such developments, as in the case of the Paya Terubong residents in Taman Seri Rambai/Lau Geok Swee .

The TBRA also seeks the clarification of the Penang State Government and the Majlis Bandaran Pulau Pinang (MBPP) as to why it is not following the policy in the Penang Structure Plan which designates Tanjung Bungah as being in the ‘secondary corridor’.

The Structure Plan clearly states that in Tanjung Bungah, any housing development cannot exceed 15 units per acre as it is in the ‘secondary corridor’.

Why has the State and the MBPP not followed this policy which is legally binding? We seek an urgent response in this regard.

Meenakshi Raman

Chairperson of TBRA

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Tanjung Bungah landslide: Five REAL facts you should know

Some purported “facts” are being circulated about the Tanjung Bungah project.
Here’s an alternative look at five critical issues:

1. Was it really flat land before work started? We were told that “the project involved slopes with a gradient of about 20 degrees”. So how can this be entirely “flat land”? Show us the original ground profile in the planning and building plan – before any work started. Apart from the gradient, slope stability also depends on the subterranean geology, the height of the water table, what’s happening further up the hill, any streams in the area, and any erosion or excavation or other work at the base. In particular, the “factor of safety” should be considered, ie whether the resisting forces are sufficient to counter the driving forces of the slopes.

2. The Pelan Dasar dan Perancangan Pemajuan MPPP 1996 is just a guideline. What carries legal weight is the Penang Structure Plan, which was gazetted in 2007.

The maximum residential density permissible for Tanjung Bungah is 15 units per acre as stipulated in the text.

Even if it is argued that Tanjung Bungah is in the primary corridor (someone during the previous administration had altered the graphic in the Structure Plan to indicate it is a primary corridor), it would be a maximum of 30 units per acre.
This project is for 980 homes in two 50-storey towers over several acres. The state government should tell us the density for this – using only the development site footprint excluding the hill slopes.

Too many high-density projects are being allowed in the name of “affordable housing” when they are not even affordable to the low-income group. [How affordable are they really, when by most definitions, genuinely affordable housing should not exceed RM250,000.] The reality is the text of the Structure Plan only allows for a maximum of 15 homes per acre in Tanjung Bungah.

3. The project may have been approved by “19 technical departments” but many of them (eg landscaping, PBA, Tenaga, Communications and Multimedia Commission, IWK, Bomba and waste management) have no real bearing on the risk of building so near a hill slope.

4. The DOE objection should carry the most weight and should override all the other departments. After all, for several large projects, the state is happy to tell us that the project would only go ahead if there is DoE approval eg the controversial land reclamation in Tanjung Tokong. Here we have the DoE itself objecting to these massive 50-storey towers near a hill slope (unlike other low-rise projects nearby). So why was the project allowed to go ahead?

5. The fact that an active quarry above the site was blasting nearby should have been taken seriously as it would contribute to slope instability. The footprint of the entire quarry should have been considered and not the specific blast point during any one time. The DoE’s Guidelines for Siting and Zoning of Industrial and Residential Areas 2008 (Appendix B) page 57 specify a minimum buffer of 500 metres for quarrying and on-site crushing activity.

http://anilnetto.com/environmentclimate-change/tanjung-bungah-landslide-five-real-facts-know/

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Has Tanjung Bungah development been in line with Penang Structure Plan?

"Even if Tanjung Bungah is a primary corridor, that would make it a maximum permissible density of 30 units per acre under the Structure Plan. Remember, that’s a legally enforceable document.

So what is the density of the 50-storey tower blocks with 980 homes? What about all other projects in Tanjung Bungah approved since 2007? The state government should tell us all their densities.
...
Another document that should have governed what projects could be allowed is the Penang Island Local Plan ...[but] nine years on ... that was never gazetted. Which is as good as having a Local Plan ‘missing in action’.
...
The state government has argued that two other projects near the quarry were approved by the DoE. but these are low-rise projects. Nothing like the twin 50-storey towers – though on somewhat flat ground – in the pipeline close to the hill-slopes.
...
The state government had also indicated to Penang Forum on 26 January 2017 that earthwork at the site would be monitored. Perhaps it could tell us what kind of monitoring was done and what they found ..."

Read full article here: http://anilnetto.com/economy/development-issues/tanjung-bungah-development-line-penang-structure-plan/

Monday, October 23, 2017

Tanjung Bungah Landslide - State Government and MBPP must explain why DOE objection ignored and be held accountable

Press Statement Oct 23, 2017

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Tanjung Bungah Residents Association (TBRA) are shocked to learn that the State Government and the Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP) have chosen to ignore the objection of the Department of Environment (DOE) for siting the development of the residential project in Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah.

The DOE had rejected the application for planning approval after taking into consideration that the development site is located close to a permanent granite quarry and as there was no buffer zone between the apartment project and the quarrying activities nearby, as required by the ‘Guidelines of Siting and Zoning of Industries and Residential Areas’.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on 22 October 2017, it stated that the area is therefore not a safe and peaceful environment for people to live in.

The State Government and the MBPP must explain why they did not abide by recommendations of the DOE.

The One Stop Centre Committee of the MBPP comprises of the Mayor and technical agencies such as the DOE, JKR, JPS, District and Land Office, etc. The Council consults the technical agencies specialised bodies whether there are any objections of development.

The State Government and the Council in particular must explain the reasons for ignoring the DOE recommendation.

The DOE objection cannot be treated lightly as it is the Department responsible for ensuring environmental safety.

Given the DOE objection, the whole approval process for the project should be deemed not valid for not following the legal processes.

Further, the Penang Structure Plan (PSP) has also been violated by the State authority and the MBPP.

According to the PSP which has been gazetted and has legal force, the Tanjung Bungah area is designated as being in the ‘secondary corridor’. The PSP further states that housing projects in the ‘secondary corridor’ cannot exceed 15 units per acre.

How such a housing project was allowed in the first place in violation of the Structure Plan must be investigated.

Clearly, a Royal Commission of Inquiry must address these legal issues, and why the State authorities and the MBPP did not follow the law, the PSP and the DOE guidelines and objections.

This is not merely a worksite tragedy. It is clearly related to hill land development and processes surrounding planning approvals and violations of the law.

The RCI must be comprehensive to ensure that all authorities responsible are held accountable, including the relevant government authorities from the Chief Minister to the MBPP to the developer and contractors responsible.

The DOE too should have been more proactive in taking action when the State government and the local authority ignored its recommendation. This is no small matter.

Furthermore, we urge the State and the Council as well as the developer to provide adequate compensation to the families of the victims who have perished in the tragedy.

The workers’ families can come to the CAP office for assistance if needed.

In addition, purchasers of the units in the project should be entitled to full refunds and the project should be stopped and not be allowed to carry on given grave safety concerns.

Mohideen Abdul Kader,
Vice President of CAP and SAM Council member

Meenakshi Raman
Chairperson of Tanjung Bungah Residents Association

See more details and links at Facebook post and comment section:

https://www.facebook.com/tbra2015/posts/912381038916264
https://www.facebook.com/tbra2015/posts/912414895579545
https://www.facebook.com/tbra2015/posts/912499862237715
https://www.facebook.com/tbra2015/posts/912746162213085
https://www.facebook.com/tbra2015/posts/913039342183767
https://www.facebook.com/tbra2015/posts/913304918823876

Sunday, October 22, 2017

ANOTHER CALL TO STOP ALL HILLSLOPE DEVELOPMENT IMMEDIATELY - PENANG FORUM’S PRESS STATEMENT IN 3 LANGUAGES

PENANG FORUM’S PRESS STATEMENT

October 22, 2017

Why must it take a tragedy to happen in Penang before the Penang state and local governments wake up to the dangers of rampant and unsustainable development especially on hill slopes? Or will they wake up?

Two years ago, in December 2015, the Penang Forum, alarmed by such negative developments, organized a half-day event titled “Save Our Hills” in which engineering, planning and legal experts gave presentations on the dangers of hillslope development. (The presentations are available on Penang Forum’s website.) It then called on the government to review and stop further hillslope projects. Very sadly, the call fell on deaf ears and the consequences are painfully evident today after an estimate of perhaps 14 lives could be lost in a landslide in a hillslope project in Tanjung Bungah.

The Penang Forum started the Penang Hills Watch (PHW), a citizens’ initiative to provide the state government, information on hill cuttings that it collects from the public. In January 2017, the PHW met with the state government; the present site where this tragedy happened was the first case that PHW highlighted to the state government. (Please visit PHW website.) Photos of construction and hill cutting on this site were presented to the state government to which it responded that the “earthwork is under monitoring.”

The Chief Minister of Penang, in the Safety Guidelines for Hillside Development, wrote “Penang Local Governments (MPPP and MPSP) are to strengthen their Geotechnical unit, which processes and approves applications for hill site developments, followed by strict enforcement. A monitoring team will be established to ensure compliance in construction and monitoring performance of slopes.” The question is what happened then? Did the state and local governments follow through their own guidelines? Or was there gross negligence?

Such senseless tragedy could have been avoided. Penang Forum calls for an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate what went wrong and how such incidents can be avoided in the future. All parties beginning from the State Planning Committee that gave approval of all hill slope projects, to the One-Stop-Centre Committee of the Penang Island City Council that also approved the project, to the engineers who are supposed to monitor the projects, to the developers and contractors who carried out the project should be investigated and held responsible.

In the meantime, Penang Forum once again calls on the authorities to:

i. stop all hillslope projects with immediate effect;

ii. immediately amend the 2009 guidelines on ‘special projects’ to explicitly prohibit all development on hill lands, except if it is for essential public services;

iii. rehabilitate all existing exposed and barren slopes and spaces to prevent further soil erosion;

iv. undertake stern enforcement, effective and deterrent punishment on those who clear land illegally or do not abide by conditions imposed to prevent soil-erosion;

v. monitor frequently and effectively all hill slopes by the local authorities;

vi. publicly declare and give warning on all hill slopes and areas that are not safe.

Penang Forum
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Consumers Association of Penang
Malaysian Nature Society, Penang
Women for Change
Penang Heritage Trust
Friends of Botanical Gardens
Residents Associations and Management Committees of Penang representing 25 such organizations

________________________________________________________

KENYATAAN AKHBAR PENANG FORUM

Oktober 22, 2017

GESAAN SEKALI LAGI UNTUK HENTIKAN DENGAN SEGERA

SEMUA PEMBANGUNAN DI LERENG BUKIT

Kenapa perlu suatu tragedi berlaku di Pulau Pinang sebelum kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang dan kerajaan tempatan sedar tentang bahaya pembangunan berleluasa dan tidak mampan, terutamanya di lereng bukit? Atau adakah mereka akan sedar?

Dua tahun yang lalu, pada Disember 2015, Penang Forum, yang bimbang dengan pembangunan negatif seperti ini telah menganjurkan acara setengah hari bertajuk "Selamatkan Bukit-Bukau Kami" di mana pakar-pakar kejuruteraan, perancangan dan undang-undang telah membentangkan bahaya pembangunan di lereng bukit. (Pembentangan boleh didapati di laman web Penang Forum.) Seterusnya Penang Forum telah meminta kerajaan untuk mengkaji semula dan menghentikan projek-projek pembangunan yang baru di lereng bukit. Kami amat dukacita kerana permintaan tersebut jatuh pada telinga pekak dan akibatnya adalah tragedi yang amat teruk berlaku pada 21 Oktober yang mana dijangkakan kira-kira 14 nyawa hilang dalam kejadian tanah runtuh di kawasan pembinaan projek lereng bukit di Tanjung Bungah.

Penang Forum telah memulakan Penang Hills Watch (PHW), suatu inisiatif rakyat untuk memberikan maklumat mengenai pemotongan bukit yang dikumpulkan daripada orang awam kepada kerajaan negeri. Pada Januari 2017, PHW telah bertemu dengan kerajaan negeri. Kawasan di mana tragedi ini berlaku adalah kes pertama yang diketengahkan PHW kepada kerajaan negeri. (Sila layari laman web PHW.) Gambar-gambar pembinaan dan pemotongan bukit di laman web ini telah dibentangkan kepada kerajaan negeri yang mana jawapannya adalah "kerja tanah sedang dipantau."

Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang dalam Garispanduan Keselamatan Pembangunan Lerang Bukit (Safety Guidelines for Hillside Development), menulis “Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan di Pulau Pinang (MPPP dan MPSP) perlu memperkasa unit Geoteknikal yang memproses dan meluluskan permohonan untuk pembangunan di lereng bukit, diikuti dengan penguatkuasaan tegas. Suatu pasukan pengawasan akan ditubuhkan untuk memastikan pematuhan dalam pembinaan dan pemantauan prestasi cerun.” Persoalannya ialah apa yang telah berlaku selepas ini? Adakah Kerajaan Negeri dan Tempatan mengikuti garispanduan mereka sendiri? Atau adakah berlaku kecuaian?

Tragedi seperti ini seharusnya dihindari. Penang Forum menggesa suatu Suruhanjaya Siasatan DiRaja untuk menyiasat apa yang berlaku dan bagaimana insiden seperti ini boleh dielakkan pada masa hadapan. Semua pihak, bermula daripada Jawatankuasa Perancang Negeri yang memberi kelulusan semua projek di lereng bukit, kepada Jawatankuasa One Stop Centre (OSC) Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang yang juga meluluskan projek itu, para jurutera yang sepatutnya memantau projek-projek itu, para pemaju dan kontraktor yang menjalankan projek itu perlu disiasat dan bertanggungjawab.

Dalam pada itu, Penang Forum sekali lagi menyeru pihak berkuasa untuk:

i. hentikan semua projek di lereng bukit dengan segera;

ii. segera meminda garis panduan 2009 tentang 'projek khas' agar dengan jelas melarang semua pembangunan di atas tanah bukit, kecuali jika ia adalah untuk tujuan awam yang penting;

iii. membaikpulih semua cerun dan kawasan terdedah dan gondol yang sedia ada untuk mencegah hakisan tanah lebih lanjut;

iv. menjalankan penguatkuasaan yang tegas, memberikan hukuman yang berkesan dan menghalang mereka yang membersihkan tanah secara haram atau tidak mematuhi syarat-syarat yang dikenakan untuk mencegah hakisan tanah;

v. pihak berkuasa tempatan memantau dengan kerap dan berkesan semua lereng bukit;

vi. mengisytiharkan dan memberi amaran kepada orang awam mengenai semua lereng bukit dan kawasan yang tidak selamat.

Penang Forum
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang
Malaysian Nature Society, Penang
Women for Change
Penang Heritage Trust
Friends of Botanical Gardens
Persatuan Penduduk dan Jawatakuasa Pengurusan Pulau Pinang yang mewakili 25 pertubuhan masyarakat

__________________________________________________________________

槟城论坛新闻文告

2017年10月22日

再次呼吁即刻停止一切山坡发展计划

为何必须得先等到悲剧降临槟城，槟州政府和地方政府才意识到猖狂且非永续性的山坡发展计划的危害？何时他们才真正地觉醒？

两年前，在2015年12月，槟城论坛因担忧如此的负面发展趋向，继而主办了一场半天的“拯救我们的山林”(Save Our Hills)论坛。在该论坛里，工程系、城市规划和法律专家个别对山坡发展的危害提呈了报告（所有当天呈现的报告幻灯片如今依然存放在槟城论坛网站里）。该论坛早已呼吁政府检讨并停止未来的山坡发展计划。非常遗憾的是，当时的呼吁被当成耳边风不受理。惨重的后果就发生在今天，估计可能有十四条性命惨遭土崩埋葬在丹绒武雅区里的一个山坡发展计划施工地。

早前槟城论坛推展的“槟城山坡观察”行动(Penang Hills Watch,或简称PHW)，是个公民主导的行动，主要汇集公众的举报然后为州政府和地方政府提供山坡被开发的资讯消息。在今年一月，“槟城山坡观察”负责部队与州政府会面讨论有关已公布的山坡观察报告。目前的惨案事发地点正是该部队向州政府强调的第一个案例（请游览PHW网站获知更多详情）。当地的施工地和山坡开发的图像证据已提呈给州政府，而政府的回应仅是：“该土木工程正在监控之下”。

槟州首席部长，在《山坡发展的安全指南》里，这样写道：“槟城的地方政府（槟岛市政厅和威省市政局）需加强他们的岩土单位(Geotechnical unit)。他们处理和批准山坡发展计划的申请，随后要严厉执法。同时，一个监控部队将会成立来确保施工工程遵守指南以及监控山坡状况”。问题是，到底过后发生了什么事？到底州政府和地方政府有没有遵循他们自己的指南？又或者出现了极大的疏忽？

如此糊涂的悲剧其实可以避免的。槟城论坛如今呼吁成立一个独立的皇家调查委员会来调查到底哪里出错和如何避免如此的事件未来再发生。所有相关人士，从批准所有山坡计划的州级规划委员会(State Planning Committee)，到也有批准权的槟岛市政厅的“一站式委员会”(One-Stop-Committee)、理应监控计划的工程师、施工执行计划的发展商和承包商，通通都需被调查和负起责任。

同时，槟城论坛再次呼吁当局者：

（一）即刻停止一切的山坡计划;

（二）即刻修改2009年的指南里所提到的‘特别计划’(special projects)，必须明确地禁止一切在山林高地的发展计划，除非那是必需的基本公共设施;

（三）恢复所有已开发和光秃的山坡和山林区，以防止更严重的水土流失;

（四）严厉的执法，采取有效且有威慑性的惩罚对付那些非法开发土地或者不遵守强制性条件避免水土流失的相关人士;

（五）地方当局应经常并有效地监控所有的山坡活动;

（六）公开地宣布和警告，若发现哪些山坡和地区不安全。

槟城论坛 Penang Forum
大马自然之友Sahabat Alam Malaysia
槟城消费者协会Consumers Association of Penang
Women for Change
Penang Heritage Trust
Friends of Botanical Gardens
槟城居民协会与管理层委员会Residents Associations and Management Committees of Penang(代表槟城的25个居民协会与管理层委员会)

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Penang landslide: Residents tell state govt, ‘We told you so’

GEORGE TOWN: The Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association (TBRA) is demanding for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on all hill slope developments in Penang, following a landslide at a construction site this morning that buried nearly 18 people.

TBRA chair Meenakshi Raman said the RCI would be a form of audit on all risky hill slope projects in the state, to prevent any tragedies from happening again.

She also said the TBRA had repeatedly appealed to the Penang government to put an end to hill slope developments as it served as a domino effect to flash floods in the state.

“We were called ‘irrational’ by the Penang government when we appealed for hill slope developments to stop. Who’s irrational now?

“Today’s incident is a grave and grim warning to the authorities to take heed of mother nature’s warning,” Meenakshi said when contacted today.

In the 8.50am incident, a 10m-high hill slope came crashing down next to a construction site not far from the Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Tanjung Bungah.

At the time of writing, two survivors were rescued, while two more bodies were retrieved from the mud and rubble. Although their identities are not yet known, they are believed to be foreign workers.

Meenakshi said during last month’s flash floods, TBRA and other residents’ associations made a collective appeal to the state government to end all excess developments and hill clearing in the state.

TBRA, concerned groups, and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) had also previously called on the Penang government to amend existing guidelines concerning hill slopes.

Meanwhile, SAM president S M Mohamed Idris said the NGO had written to the Penang government “several times” urging them to stop hillside developments.

“We have warned that hill slopes are fragile ecosystems and cannot be touched.

“And now, we are really shocked that the lives of many have been sacrificed. We support TBRA’s call for an urgent RCI,” he said when contacted.

21/10/2017

www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/10/21/penang-landslide-residents-tell-state-govt-we-told-you-so/

Tanjung Bungah landslide, up to 20 feared buried

By arnold loh, tan sin chow, intan amalina mohd ali, n. trisha, and r. sekaran
Saturday, 21 Oct 2017

GEORGE TOWN: Unconfirmed reports indicate up to 20 people are feared buried in a landslide in Tanjung Bungah.

The sheer face of the hill near Lorong Lembah Permai 3 collapsed at about 8.30am on Saturday (Oct 21).

The state Fire and Rescue Department’s initial report stated that only two survivors have been found so far.

The report added that the hill face that slid down was estimated to be 10m high.

Firemen, Civil Defence personnel, several ambulances and the police have arrived at the scene and have begun to search for the other buried victims.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/10/21/tanjung-bungah-landslide-breaking/

See more details and links at Facebook post and comment section: https://www.facebook.com/tbra2015/posts/912381038916264

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Wake Up Call To Reduce And Solve Penang’s Flood Problems (in English, Bahasa Malaysia, 中文)

(In English, Bahasa Malaysia, 中文)

Press Release Oct 15, 2017

Wake Up Call To Reduce And Solve Penang’s Flood Problems

Alarmed by the impact of the recent floods that hit Penang on 15 September, several Residents Associations and community representatives have gathered together to make a collective call to the State Government of Penang, and their elected representatives to this time, take the situation of rainfall, floods and hill erosion very seriously.

The recent floods in Penang has exposed both short term and long term causes as well as measures needed to reduce and solve the flood problem.

The incidence of the floods in so many areas and the severity of the damage caused was shocking to Penangites, who have already been used to previous floods in the past. This time around, the severity and damage caused was most alarming, which caused much hardship and frustration.

Many communities were affected and in so many ways, including the following:

· one person lost her life;

· homes and even old folks’ homes were flooded and damaged;

· several hundreds of people had to be evacuated to relief centres;

· thousandswerestranded in traffic jams;

· many cars were totally damaged, buried by landslides, washed away in waters or were stuck in mud;

· landslides and landslips in several areas and erosion of hillslopes and

· the inability of many people to get to work.

This event and subsequent floods after that are indeed a wake-up call for serious and urgent action.

Some of the root causes of the recurrent floods in Penang can be attributed to the following:

· concrete jungle development increases surface run-off;

· hill cutting and hill-slope development;

· indiscriminate development and lack of green open spaces;

· poor drainage/clogging of drains;

· poor planning and oversight by the government; and

· increasing frequency and intensity of rainfalls due to possible changes in climate.

This is not a one-off event and is expected to recur if the authorities do not take preventive measures and deal with the root causes.

Flood mitigation alone is inadequate and comprehensive and effective action is needed.

In fact, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi said recently, that “flood mitigation projects cannot stop flooding, but can only help to reduce the impact of the floods because many other issues also contribute to the problem.”

He also warned that the present rainfall data can no longer be used for flood mitigation projects because the rainfall pattern has changed in the last few years.

We therefore demand that the following actions be taken:

i. Stop overdevelopment and the creation of more concrete jungles;
ii. Hill-cutting and hill slope development must be stopped. This can be done by the State Government by not approving any further hill-slope and hill land developments.
iii. The State Government should immediately amend the 2009 guidelines on ‘special projects’ to explicitly prohibit all development on hill lands, except if it is for essential public services;
iv. Existing exposed and barren slopes and spaces should be rehabilitated and covered to prevent further soil erosion;
v. Stern enforcement, effective and deterrent action be taken by relevant authorities including the local authorities on those who clear lands illegally or do not abide by conditions imposed to prevent soil-erosion;
vi. Frequent monitoring of hill-slopes by the local authorities;
vii. Public declaration by local authorities of hill slopes and areas which are not safe;
viii. More tree-planting and creation of green open spaces are needed;
ix. Regular cleaning up of drains to free from clogging;
x. Introduce local plans now so as to control planning;
xi. Ensure that persons in positions of power and responsibility in government are professional, honest, have integrity and experience and are held accountable for their actions; and
xii. Beef up the enforcement and accountability not just in government agencies but also in professional bodies, like the Board of Engineers Malaysia.

The representatives of Residents Associations and Management Corporations/Committees will also reach out to their elected representatives urging them to act on the above demands and will hold them accountable for their actions.

This statement is endorsed by the following:

1. Meenakshi Raman Tanjung Bungah Residents Association

2. Dr.Ti Lian Geh Taman Sri Rambai /Taman Lau Geok Swee Residents’ Association, Paya Terubong

3. Manuel Nicholas Management Corporation Sunrise Garden Condominium, Sungei Ara

4. Medalene Sim Management Committee Solok Kelicap, Sg. Ara

5. Jeffery Ho Taman Sri Nibong Residents Association, Sungei Nibong Besar

6. Hor Cheok Weng Management Committee, Mawar Apartment, Sungei Nibong Besar

7. Nic Sim Management Committee, Melati Apartment, Sungei Nibong Besar

8. Ang Sue Khoo Pykett Residents’ Committee
9. Henry Loh Management Corporation, Diamond Villa, Tanjung Bungah

10. Terence Nathan Management Corporation, Marvista, Tg. Bungah

11. George Lee Management Corporation, Desa Embun Emas Tg. Bungah

12. Dato’ Kee Phaik Chin Residents Association of Jesselton

13. Douglas Fox Management Corporation of Taman Jesselton

14. S. Suppiah Residents Association of Pantai Molek, Tg Tokong

15. K. Suthakar Tanjung Court Condominium Residents’ Ad-Hoc Group

16. Soo Ying Hong Desa Delima Residents Association, Bandar Baru Air Itam

17. Choong Ewe Chin Sri Impian Residents Association, Bandar Baru Air Itam

18. Steven Leong Yik Foo Desa Baiduri Residents Adhoc Group Bandar Baru Air Itam

19. Rama Velayutham Treasure Ville Residents Association Bandar Baru Air Itam

20. Khoo Hock Kin Fortune Court Residents Association Bandar Baru Air Itam

21. Haji Fadzil Bin Hitam Desaria Residents Association, Taman Desaria, Sungai Ara, Penang.

22. R. Chandra Segar Management Corporation Vistaria Condominium Taman Desaria, Sungai Ara, Penang.

23. Prof. Emeritus D. Gajaraj Management Corporation of The Cove

24. Alan Tan Management Committee Lavinia Apartment

For further information, please contact Meenakshi Raman at 012-4300042

______________________________________________________________________

Siaran Akhbar 15 Oktober 2017

"Bertindak Sekarang Untuk Tangani Masalah Banjir di Pulau Pinang"

Bimbang dengan banjir yang melanda Pulau Pinang pada 15 September 2017, beberapa Persatuan Penduduk dan Wakil Komuniti berkumpul bersama untuk membuat gesaan kepada Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang dan wakil rakyat mereka supaya mengambilkira situasi taburan hujan, banjir dan hakisan bukit dengan secara serius.

Kejadian banjir di Pulau Pinang baru-baru ini mendedahkan penyebab jangka pendek dan jangka panjang serta langkah yang diperlukan untuk mengurangkan dan menyelesaikan masalah banjir.

Banjir yang melanda begitu banyak kawasan dan kerosakan teruk yang disebabkan oleh kejadian banjir itu telah mengejutkan rakyat Pulau Pinang yang sudah pun menghadapi banjir di masa lalu. Pada kali ini, kerosakan yang disebabkan oleh kejadian banjir itu amat teruk dan membimbangkan sehingga menyebabkan kesengsaraan dan kekecewaan.

Ramai komuniti terjejas, termasuklah:

·         Kehilangan satu nyawa;
·         Rumah, termasuk rumah perlindungan orang tua turut rosak dan dilanda banjir;
·         Beberapa ratus orang terpaksa dipindahkan ke pusat penempatan banjir;
·         Beribu orang terperangkap dalam kesesakan lalu lintas;
·         Banyak kereta yang rosak, ditimpa tanah runtuh, tenggelam dalam air atau terperangkap dalam lumpur;
·         Tanah runtuh berlaku di beberapa kawasan dan hakisan pada cerun bukit; dan
·         Ramai orang yang tidak dapat ke tempat kerja.

Kejadian ini dan banjir yang berlaku selepas ini sepatutnya menjadi satu amaran untuk mengambil tindakan segera dan serius.

Sesetengah penyebab utama berulangnya kejadian banjir di Pulau Pinang adalah disebabkan oleh beberapa perkara yang berikut:

· Pembangunan hutan konkrit meningkatkan larian air permukaan;

· Pembangunan di lereng bukit dan pemotongan cerun bukit;

· Pembangunan yang berleluasa dan kekurangan kawasan terbuka hijau;

· Saliran dan perparitan yang tidak memuaskan/longkang tersumbat;

· Perancangan yang lemah dan terlepas pandang oleh kerajaan; dan

· Peningkatan kekerapan dan intensiti taburan hujan akibat kemungkinan perubahan dalam iklim.

Kejadian ini bukanlah peristiwa yang berlaku sekali sahaja dan dijangka akan berlaku semula jika pihak berkuasa tidak mengambil langkah pencegahan dan menangani punca utama kejadian.

Langkah pencegahan banjir sahaja tidak mencukupi dan tindakan yang berkesan dan lengkap amat diperlukan.

Malah, Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi baru-baru ini berkata “projek tebatan banjir tidak dapat menghentikan banjir tetapi hanya boleh membantu mengurangkan kesan banjir kerana banyak lagi isu lain juga turut menyumbang kepada masalah itu.”

Beliau juga memberi amaran bahawa data taburan hujan pada masa kini juga tidak lagi dapat digunakan untuk projek tebatan banjir kerana corak taburan hujan telah berubah dalam beberapa tahun yang lalu.

Oleh sebab itu, kami menuntut agar tindakan yang berikut diambil:

i. Hentikan pembangunan berlebihan dan kewujudan lebih banyak hutan konkrit;

ii. Pemotongan bukit dan pembangunan di cerun bukit mestilah dihentikan dengan segera. Ini boleh dilakukan oleh Kerajaan Negeri dengan tidak meluluskan sebarang pembangunan di lereng bukit dan tanah bukit;

iii. Kerajaan Negeri perlu segera meminda garis panduan ‘projek khas’ 2009 untuk melarang semua pembangunan di tanah bukit, kecuali jika ia untuk perkhidmatan awam penting;

iv. Cerun bukit yang terdedah dan cerun serta ruang yang tandus perlu dipulihkan semula dan dilindungi untuk mencegah hakisan tanah;

v. Penguatkuasaan yang tegas, tindakan mencegah dan berkesan perlu diambil oleh pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan termasuk pihak berkuasa tempatan terhadap mereka yang membersihkan tanah secara haram atau tidak mematuhi syarat yang dikenakan bagi mencegah hakisan tanah;

vi. Pemantauan kawasan cerun bukit dengan kerap oleh pihak berkuasa tempatan;

vii. Pengisytiharan awam oleh pihak berkuasa tempatan bagi kawasan bukit dan cerun yang tidak selamat;

viii. Memerlukan lebih banyak penanaman pokok dan mewujudkan ruang terbuka hijau;

ix. Membersihkan longkang dengan kerap agar tidak tersumbat;

x. Menyediakan Rancangan Tempatan supaya dapat mengawal perancangan;

xi. Memastikan mereka yang berkuasa dan bertanggungjawab dalam kerajaan adalah mereka yang profesional, jujur, mempunyai integriti dan pengalaman dan bertanggungjawab terhadap tindakan mereka; dan

xii. Meningkatkan penguatkuasaan dan kebertanggungjawaban bukan hanya dalam agensi kerajaan tetapi juga dalam badan profesional seperti Lembaga Jurutera Malaysia.

Wakil Persatuan Penduduk dan Perbadanan Pengurusan/Jawatankuasa juga akan menghubungi Wakil Rakyat masing-masing bagi menggesa mereka untuk bertindak terhadap tuntutan di atas dan memastikan mereka bertanggungjawab terhadap tindakan mereka.

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