SAM president Meenakshi Raman said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), in particular, was well aware of the destruction being carried out on the former granite quarry, as it had put out two stop-work orders.

She also raised concerns over the quarry’s location, which was an environmentally sensitive area quite close to the water catchment forests and the Teluk Bahang dam.

“It is mind-boggling the authorities have not acted urgently, despite the non-compliance by the quarry operator of the stop-work orders and violation of the relevant laws.

“Why did the authorities, including the Penang government, whose role concerns quarrying activities, not take stern action when the land owner was happily flouting the laws?

“To make things worse, the illegal operations have been taking place partly on hill land above 76m, which is against state planning laws,” she said in a statement today.

The Star reported today a 120m high hill in Teluk Bahang was being cleared on a former quarry which had stopped operating some 20 years ago.

It said MBPP had issued stop-work orders in February and May and found granite boulders being cut out from a 1ha section of the hill.

Meenakshi said the Penang government must ensure that the land owner restore the site, and look at other illegal land clearings.

She said the case showed Penang’s enforcement of the law was lacking at all levels of government.

“Beefing up the state and local governments’ enforcement capacities has long been overdue,” she said.