No construction work done during landslide: CM

GEORGE TOWN: No construction work was being carried out at the site of the paired road at Jalan Bukit Kukus in Paya Terubong near here yesterday, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) had issued a directive to stop work on the highway project following several concrete beams that fell on the slopes of Jalan Tun Sardon last Thursday, one kilometre from the location of the landslide.
"As the 'stop work order' is still in effect, all working activities had stopped. I am told the contractor had given a report to DOSH this morning (Friday) at a meeting with DOSH to provide information on the mitigation work that must be carried out.
"They should submit the report this (Friday) afternoon but before the report was sent, the landslide had occurred and the contractor and workers could not carry out work because the 'stop work order' had been issued," he told reporters at the site of the incident.
Earlier, Chow together with several State Exco members, Phee Boon Poh, Zairil Khir Johari and Yeoh Soon Hin were at the scene to make an observation.
The Bukit Kukus Paired Road project costing RM545 million is expected to be delayed following the incident at the construction site involving 14 concrete beams measuring 25m each which had fallen down the slope last Thursday.
The project which began in 2016 is being carried out by three parties to save cost, namely the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), PLB Land Sdn Bhd and Geo Valley Sdn Bhd while the incident occurred in the section under MBPP.
Chow said the project was expected to be ready in 2020.
He said the weather condition and the presence of flowing water on the hill slope were believed to have been the cause of the landslide.
"The state government expresses its sadness and regret on the incident that had affected the victims," said Chow.
Two people died while one was injured and at least 10 other victims who were foreign workers working at the construction site for the paired road were still buried under the landslide.