Batu Ferringhi landslide was a construction mishap, says Penang mayor

GEORGE TOWN: The freak landslide which took the lives of four foreign workers at a resort along Jalan Batu Ferringhi was a construction mishap instead, says Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang (pic). 

Yew said the incident occurred due to the collapse of the retaining wall at the resort’s premises. 

“Construction works at any compound must acquire the approval from the local government (PBT). 

“PBT has to know about any construction activities and make sure that it is done under the supervision of engineers. 

“Public Works Department (PWD) and MBPP will make sure that the situation at the construction site is under control. 

“We are monitoring closely before making a decision on whether to stop the resort from its operations,” he said at a press conference after the launching of Karpal Singh Digital Hub at SK Sungai Gelugor in Penang. 

Also present was Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, state local government committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo and Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid. 

The incident on Tuesday (June 26) took place at 9.21pm at a resort along Jalan Batu Ferringhi.

It is learnt that the resort owner had recently contracted a Myanmar worker to build a retaining wall, after realising that the hill separating the resort and Jalan Batu Ferringhi had signs of erosion.