Penang Watch

Wednesday December 10, 2008
Poor drainage cited as reason for stop-work order in Batu Ferringhi
By LOOI SUE-CHERN(Star)

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Municipal Council has ordered work on a multi-million-ringgit bungalow project in Batu Ferringhi to be stopped immediately.

Its president Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman said the council was concerned about the drainage system that allowed water to flow from into the site, not only endangering the project but the nearby six blocks of Mar Vista apartments.

“There must be a proper drainage system that diverts water into the retention pond.

“The developer must find out where the water is coming from because it could weaken the soil structure and affect the high-rise buildings above the site. They are to stop all work on the bungalows until they solve the drainage problem,” he said, adding that the situation could worsen during the rainy days.

The project, by DMV Sdn Bhd, involves 37 units of three-storey bungalows located at the foot of a slope just below the 18-storey Mar Vista apartments.
Concern for safety: Zainal (in blue) visiting the Hilltop Villas site during his inspection rounds.

Zainal Rahim and several members of the newly-formed independent panel of engineering experts headed by Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Prof Eric Goh had inspected several ongoing hillslope development projects on Penang island yesterday.

The projects included GLM Property Development Sdn Bhd’s two blocks of 28-storey condominiums in Bandar Tanjung Bungah, Ivory Continental Sdn Bhd’s three blocks of 28-storey condominiums and 15 four-storey country homes, as well as six three-storey semi-detached houses in Batu Ferringhi.

Zainal Rahim said some of the developers had been told to improve their site management such as putting covers over barren hillslopes and ensuring cleanliness.

He said the panel would also inspect 10 to 15-year-old hillslope projects as well as abandoned ones.

“In the next two months, we hope to make rounds at the finished hillslope projects in Paya Terubong.” He clarified that the state was not against hillside developments as long as they were sustainable.

Prof Goh said foreign guidelines for hillslope development may be used as benchmark.