THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has issued a stop-work order to the landowner of Lost Paradise Resort in Batu Ferringhi for any construction works after the collapse of a retaining wall.
MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said that the order was given yesterday. Four foreign workers were killed following the collapse of the wall on Tuesday.
“We have also lodged a police report on Wednesday,” Yew told a press conference after chairing a full council meeting at City Hall today.
Yew said the MBPP notice was issued under Section 70A of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 for earthworks.
Yesterday, Yew had told a press conference that the landowner must seek approval from MBPP for any construction works even though it was done within his own compound.
Following the incident, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow instructed the Public Works Department in Penang to conduct a thorough check on the conditions of Jalan Batu Ferringhi and the slopes.
Yew said one lane on the road, about 50m stretch, was being closed for mitigation work and to ensure the safety or road users.
On a separate matter, Yew said Universiti Sains Malaysia had been engaged to conduct a study on the housing and social issues for a year. The project costs RM130,000.
“We’ll look at the outcome of the study, and what we think are useful and objective, we will adopt them in our policies to enhance the built environment and to make the city livable and sustainable,” Yew explained.
On a request by the Real Estate & Housing Developers Association Malaysia (Rehda) Penang, Yew said MBPP had decided to halve the rates for felling trees under three categories.
The revised rates are for trees with a diameter from 0.8m to 1.59m (RM2,500), 1.6m to 2.59m (RM7,500) and 2.6m to 3.69m (RM12,500).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by G. Revatic