PETALING JAYA: The Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (Taruc) 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.
Dr Wee, who is also MCA deputy president, however said that the distance from the quarry is not the only factor to be considered, but that other factors such as gradient and location (whether upstream or downstream) of the site which is under construction should be taken into factor as well.
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 Tanjung Bungah construction site at about 8.30am and claimed the lives of 11 people.
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