GEORGE TOWN: Authorities have yet to allow residents of four houses affected by the fatal landslide in Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong, to return home as they await the necessary documents and approval for slope mitigation and repair works.
State local government and town and country planning committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the Penang Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) had requested the landslide incident report from the developer’s geotechnical consultant, WYA Consulting Engineers Sdn Bhd, on Nov 5.
He said DOSH was now waiting for the developer’s civil engineering consultant, Aptitude Consulting Engineers Sdn Bhd, which acts as the project’s Superintending Officer (SO), to submit the full documentation and a formal application to carry out mitigation and repair works at the affected slope.
“The documents and application are expected to be submitted to DOSH on Wednesday (Nov 11) for further consideration,” he said during a press conference after the Penang World Town Planning Day 2026 celebrations on Tuesday (Nov 10).
The four houses, numbered 1, 3, 5 and 7, were declared unsafe for occupation after Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had issued notices under Section 83 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
H’ng said DOSH had previously instructed the developer’s geotechnical and civil engineering consultants to submit a mitigation plan and comply with the necessary requirements before approval could be granted for the repair works to begin.
He said the developer must obtain DOSH’s approval before proceeding with any mitigation work at the landslide site.
“For now, the four affected households are still not allowed to return to their homes,” he said.
In the landslide incident on Oct 25, six houses were affected in the incident that killed a 73-year-old doctor.
Dr Wong Kar Lin was killed after being buried in a landslide that hit his home.
His wife Chang Mei Nuo, 68, and mother-in-law, Wong Poh Lim, in her 80s, escaped unharmed.
On the welfare of the affected residents, H’ng said the matter had been entrusted to the Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai to coordinate assistance.
