GEORGE TOWN: More than 3,500 residents of the Jay Series and Kingfisher Series Apartments at Greenlane Heights here are living in fear of possible mud floods and landslides due to massive slope clearing behind their blocks for a highway project.
Noise and dust pollution aside, the residents are having sleepless nights, worrying that large boulders on the precarious slope may roll down anytime, especially when it rains heavily, continuously.
Checks by the New Straits Times today found that large swathes of the slope were being cleared and left naked and barren, except for some parts being covered by tarpaulin.
During the 30 minutes the NST was at the Jay Series Apartment, the noise pollution from the hacking of boulders could be clearly heard. There were nearly 10 excavators and tractors on the slope carrying our hacking works.
Residents there claimed it was a normal occurrence since the beginning of last month from 8.30am to 7pm daily, except for Sunday. They had to shut their doors and windows at all times.
Jay Series Apartment residents' association committee chairman Lam Tuck Keong said the residents were living in fear and were worried about their safety.
"Our homes are on low level ground and the highway project is not only much higher than our homes, but in some places, very close to us.
"There have been numerous slope cutting failures which resulted in disasters. Who can guarantee us our safety? What happens in the event boulders from the slope come crashing down as a result of heavy rain?
"Who is going to be held responsible when danger strikes?" he said when met.
The slope used to be green until last month when work began at full steam. Residents claimed that they were never really briefed about details of the project until it was too late and work had already started.
Lam said they were not against development but it should not be done at the expense of the people's safety.
The NST also managed to get to the rooftop of the Kingfisher Series Apartment for an overview of the clearing works.
Kingfisher Series Apartment residents' association committee secretary Richard Lim said they had demanded answers from their elected representatives on numerous occasions but to no avail.
He said a few years ago, several cars parked at the apartment's parking lot were damaged when boulders from the slope came crashing down during the rainy season.
"Mind you, that was before this project even took off. Now, with the massive clearing works, I dread to imagine what will happen during the rainy season."
Residents of the two apartments have appointed Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) to act on their behalf.
PRM committee member Rosni Rashid, who was a former building inspector of the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), said she found it suspicious that the project, which began in February, appeared to have been sped up.
She said they would investigate on behalf of the residents and find out all the details and safety precautions, if any, of the project.
"For now, we demand an early warning system to be put in place to prepare for any eventuality.
"We understand the residents' fears and worries, and we are prepared to stand with them and fight their case," she said.
Meanwhile, Penang PRM vice-chairman Ravinder Singh called on the Department of Environment (DoE) to inspect the ongoing works to ensure the contractor was complying with all safety regulations.
"The DoE, as the agency responsible for environmental matters, must "turun padang" and explain to the public about cutting hill slopes, for roads or any other purposes, which are close to residential premises below.
"If the contractor has failed to comply with any guidelines, we want the DoE to issue an immediate stop-work order before any mishap occurs, failing which, the DoE should be held responsible," he added.
It was reported in January last year that work on the first project under the state's highly ambitious Penang Transport Master Plan
(PTMP) — the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway - Air Itam bypass — had started and achieved eight per cent progress.
The 6km bypass, to be built at a cost of RM851 million, is expected to be completed in 2025.
Among the distinctive features of the underpass were that some parts would be elevated, and it would have three short-distance twin land tunnels.
State Infrastructure and Transport Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari told the NST that the state government had already engaged with Jay Series and Kingfisher Series Apartments' residents sometime back.
"The committee members even thanked the local elected representative for informing them about the project and others.
"So, I am surprised to see people claiming ignorance," he added.