We’ll form official inquiry into landslide, says Guan Eng
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng says he’s devastated over deadly landslide at construction site in Tanjung Bungah, vows to find the cause.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he is devastated over the loss of lifes and promised to get to the bottom of the issue behind the incident.
He said he would seek an audience with Governor Abdul Rahman Abbas soon to get his consent to form the inquiry.
“It is a worksite accident. A normal investigation will not be enough. So we will proceed with a state Commission of Inquiry, the same way we have done for the Menara Umno and the second bridge incidents previously.
“We will leave it to the experts to determine what had caused the incident.
“I am deeply saddened and the state government will do everything possible to help all construction workers affected,” he told reporters today.
Lim was on site with state exco members Chow Kon Yeow, Lim Hock Seng and Phee Boon Poh to see the extent of the landslide and received a briefing from fire and rescue department officials.
Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said he had also instructed Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif to urgently conduct an audit on all construction sites.
“We want to ensure that safety standards are met for the good of the workers,” he said.
Rescue officials have confirmed that a total of 14 victims were buried alive in this morning’s landslide in Tanjung Bungah, with three bodies having already been pulled out from under the rubble as of 2.30pm this afternoon.
Those still under the 35-metre pile of fallen gravel include a Malaysian, while the 13 others were Indonesians, Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.
The identities of the three men pulled out from the rubble have yet to be ascertained.
Earlier reports that two people had been rescued were inaccurate as sources at the site had mistaken some people who were injured near the landslide as having been buried under it as well.
Penang landslide: Residents tell state govt, ‘We told you so’
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