Helping journalists do a better job

COMMENT | “… landslides happen because of some non-conformance of bye-laws by the developers, contractors or negligence of professional consultants … most Penangites feel the State Government should buck up or be responsible for the effects of landslides, which are emblematic of the slippage in standards of enforcement of rules governing property development and its related construction activities.” Anonymous, June 26

A reader’s comment on the collapse of a retaining wall of a hotel in Tanjung Bungah, Penang that killed four Myanmarese workers can be as probing as the stories are informative, yet incomplete in probing the frequency of landslides in the island state.

In reading the story, words like “corrupt developer, shoddy contractors, callous investors, deforestation, shocking occupational health safety standards, unprotected foreign workers, bad governance” raced through my mind.

According to a reader “SAC” (https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/481218 ) there have been 10 landslides, including flash floods, in Penang since 2016, which I find credible.

Each time I drive from Tanjung Tokong to Batu Ferringhi, I am amazed at the multi-storey structures perched on hill slopes, bungalows and malls built on reclaimed land, areas that were swept by the tsunami in December 2004.

Despite the vulnerabilities of these areas to the elements, these developments were approved. How come?

Readers expect journalists to ask why, to research and consult experts on ways to mitigate landslides, and query the state government on uncontrolled development of hills...