Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has given the developer of the Tanjung Bungah hillside housing project, which was hit by a deadly landslide last Saturday, one week to reach an amicable solution for those who purchased units in the development.

Lim threatened to intervene if the developer, Taman Sri Bunga Sdn Bhd, fails to come to an amicable solution with the 500 or so buyers caught in limbo, as to whether to continue servicing their housing loans.

“Fail to do so within the timeframe (and) we will intervene, as we are always on the buyers' side,” he told a press conference yesterday.

In response, the developer, which is part of the Boon Siew Group, said it was willing to meet with the buyers, and urged them to come forward and make the necessary enquiries.

“As a responsible developer, we strive at providing the best service to purchasers, and will ensure that any doubts or concerns of the purchasers are addressed appropriately,” said the firm’s director, in a statement to the media yesterday.

The company had also promised to cooperate fully with investigations into the cause of the tragedy, adding that it would be conducting its own probe with private consultants.

“We will at all times give our full cooperation to all the relevant authorities and agencies to assist them to conclude the findings of their own inquiry and investigation in a speedy manner," a statement from the company read.

DAP Tanjung Bungah state assemblyperson Teh Yee Cheu had earlier called for the intervention of the state government to resolve the buyers’ woes.

‘Build a wall’

As the Penang government deliberates imposing a moratorium on hillside development, a veteran activist has suggested that retaining walls be erected instead as a precondition to development.

The moratorium is being discussed by the state executive council as it faces increasing criticism for having greenlit such developments in the wake of the landslide, which claimed the lives of 11 people onsite.

Penang Consumer Protection Association president K Koris Atan said that retaining walls should be put up on hillside developments prior to piling work being carried out.

“This condition must be imposed for all developers when they apply for approval, they have to insert it in their plans before piling starts,“ he told Malaysiakini.

He cited cases of hillside development in Singapore and Hong Kong, where retaining walls are a precondition of planning approvals.

“It is the first thing to do to protect the safety of the site and workers. It may be costly to the developers, but this is the price you have to pay to get your projects approved,” Koris said.

“The welfare of workers, whether locals or foreigners, must be taken into account as well. There has to be (a) clear plan on how the developer plans to do this before projects are considered for approval by the local council,” Koris added.

“Workers should not be staying within the project area, and developers have to be made to follow the proper guidelines on human rights when it comes to the welfare of the workers,” he stressed.