THE main contractor, consultant engineer, independent checker and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) were found to have their shortcomings that led to the Bukit Kukus landslide that occurred on Oct 19 last year.
This was one of the findings by the special committee set up by the Penang government to probe into the landslide that claimed the lives of nine foreign workers. Four others were injured.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, who headed the special committee, said the main contractor, Yuta Maju Sdn Bhd, probably failed to follow the best construction practices when he released the findings to the media in Komtar today.
He pointed out that the main contractor of the RM545.6 million Bukit Kukus paired roads project failed to hire competent engineers to design a temporary platform at the site where the landslide occurred.
The stop-work order slapped on the contractor has been lifted by the Department of Safety and Occupational Health (DOSH) on Jan 28. MBPP followed suit by lifting its stop-work order on the same day.
Although the contractor, headquartered in Kuala Terengganu, has been blacklisted together with the consultants and engineering companies engaged by them, Zakiyuddin said the contractor has been allowed to proceed with the project.
“The project is now 75% complete. It will be a long process if we reopen tender and it will also cost us more. The only problem happened at the temporary works area whereas construction work in other areas was carried out properly,” Zakiyuddin explained.
He added that the 55mm of rainfall recorded on that day from 1.45am till 11am also caused the platform to be unstable.
On Oct 17, two days before the landslide occurred, DOSH had issued a stop-work order after 14 concrete beams, measuring 25m long each, fell onto a slope in Jalan Tun Sardon. A crane operator is believed to have accidentally knocked down one of the beams laid on the ground, causing others to fall onto the slope.
After the issuance of the stop-work order, Zakiyuddin said the contractor could not carry out maintenance work and hence, the rainwater that had gathered at the site worsened the condition.
He added that GEA (M) Sdn Bhd as the consultant engineer should also be responsible for keeping an eye on the work progress, including temporary works.
The committee also stated that G&P Professional Sdn Bhd, as the independent checker, failed to follow the scope of work as required by MBPP. This includes visiting the site and reporting to MBPP when there is any work carried out without proper procedure.
State Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, who was also present at the press conference, said MBPP, as the owner of the project, had been asked to restructure its supervisory team.
He said the scheduled date of completion, which was supposed to be last month, has now been extended to May 2020 due to land acquisition and blasting issues besides the landslide tragedy.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Chan Kok Kuan