Bukit Kukus landslide: MBPP acknowledges responsibility, entrusted third party to carry out project

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has acknowledged responsibility for the Bukit Kukus landslide.

MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said the council is not pushing away any responsibility, admitting that it is the council's project.

"We are liable to a certain extent of monitoring and supervising the project.

"However, we know our capacity and entrusted (a third party) to carry out the infrastructure project during that time as our engineering section is fully aware of the magnitude of the project," Yew said during a press conference at Penang Hill on Thursday (Feb 14).

He said this in response to a statement by Deputy Chief Minister 1 Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, who led a special investigative panel report on the Bukit Kukus landslide.

The investigative panel blamed the contractor, MBPP and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).

On Wednesday (Feb 13), DOSH Penang director Jaafar Leman denied the department was to be blamed for the landslide.

Nine workers were killed and four others injured in the landslide at the project site of the Bukit Kukus paired road on Oct 19, 2018.

After five days, the search and rescue operation was officially called off.