GEORGE TOWN, 24 Oct 2018:
Yuta Maju Sdn Bhd, the main contractor of the Jalan Bukit Kukus paired road project, yesterday claimed there were strangers living at the construction site in Paya Terubong – where a deadly landslide occurred last Friday.
Yuta Maju said at present, nine bodies had been found and retrieved from the location of the landslide and four had been rescued.
It said the cabins affected by the landslide were former living quarters of workers employed in the project – which had been vacated and abandoned several weeks before the landslide.
“Electricity supply to these cabins had been disconnected on Oct 2, to ensure that the cabins were not used by anyone.
“The bodies found and the persons rescued are strangers who were not employees of Yuta Maju Sdn Bhd,” it said in a statement.
The company stressed the presence of these strangers at the abandoned cabins was completely unknown to Yuta Maju.
However, the company said it has worked with third parties to ensure the recovered bodies are properly sent back to the respective countries.
It said the respective consulates are well aware of the efforts that have been taken for the proper repatriation of the bodies.
“Apart from providing the required machinery and equipment for the search and rescue efforts, Yuta Maju has also been contributing in cash and in kind towards the food and drinks needs of the rescue workers involved in the search and rescue efforts.”
It added that Yuta Maju has nevertheless on a humanitarian basis provided and will continue providing all assistance within its capability.
The landslide tragedy claimed the lives of nine foreign workers and three were injured. The landslide occurred at 1.56pm last Friday.
Search-and-rescue (SAR) operations ended at 6pm after all the debris had been moved and no more bodies were found following the tragedy.
The nine who died were five Bangladeshi men, three Indonesian men and one Myanmar woman. Two of the bodies were found last Friday, two on Saturday, three on Sunday and two on Monday.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow believes the Penang City Council (MBPP) will do its best to ensure that the construction work on the Bukit Kukus Twin Highway, Paya Terubong near here can be resumed safely.
He said engineers will take a look at the design of the project and make corrections if necessary after the stop work order by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health is withdrawn.
“The task of an engineer when designing any structure will take into account many factors. In this case (Bukit Kukus Twin Highway project) includes soil conditions, slopes, drainage systems and others that can help an engineer design the structure.
“So, we are waiting for the response from engineers to react to what the professor from USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia) said.”
He said this in response to USM’s Landslide, Disaster Management and Soil Erosion expert Prof Dr Habibah Lateh’s statement that the twin-highway project was identified as being risky due to the type of soil in the area that was friable and not suitable for any construction.
Habibah said the state government had to make a detailed study if it wanted to continue with the project.
– Bernama