Contractor of a hilltop development project defies warning

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu Government has expressed distress against the contractor of a hilltop development project in Cerung Lanjut here for disregarding appeals from officials to abide by Environmental Impact Assessment recommendations.

State Industrial, Commerce and Environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw said the state through its relevant agencies had written to the contractor to identify, evaluate and mitigate the effects of earthworks on hillslopes at the site.

“There is not much done by the contractor to prevent mudslides during the rainy season.
Recurring problem: A worker clearing mud after a landslide at the site in Kuala Terengganu recently.

“The contractor seems to defy warnings from the State Environment Department to ensure gradients are covered adequately with sheets to prevent landslips,” he said.

Toh said that checks showed the contractor has been lackadaisical in managing terrain stability to prevent negative social and environmental impacts.

Since the end of last year, he said that residents on the ground below the project were devastated by mudslides which covered their homes each time there was a heavy downpour.

The state faced the brunt of the people’s anger when their homes were hit by the mudslides, especially local leaders who were given an earful, he said.

Toh said the contractor was appointed by the Federal Govern-ment to develop a hilltop park with a panoramic view as a tourist attraction.
Precautions not taken: View of earthworks on the project.

The contractor failed to take precautionary measures although several homes and a surau had been covered in mud four times, he said.

Toh said the state was concerned over a high-rise apartment on the lower ground as a landslide could spell disaster for the dwellers.

He said the state and the city council would continue to press the contractor to implement safety procedures to prevent soil erosion.