Residents worried after landslides hit Penang hill

Penang Hill has been hit by landslides after several days of rain, Malaysia's The Star reported.

At least 13 locations in and around the hill were affected.

Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said soil erosion had occurred in several areas along the jeep trail, causing trees to be uprooted.

"Fortunately, there were no casualties.

We advise the public to practise extreme caution when within the affected areas.

"The road at KM2.1 is intact and vehicles can pass through. However, half the road at KM4 has been damaged," he said.

Mr Zairil added that repair works would take about four months.

"This problem has also resulted in the cost of the remedial works to escalate to RM1 million (S$385,500) for each location," he said.

Mr Zairil said that the area along the KM2.5 had been cordoned off for safety reasons.

"Kebun Bunga assemblyman Cheah Kah Peng said the landslide was first Residents worried after landslides hit Penang Hill detected on Sunday, but three major ones happened on Wednesday and Thursday.

"We will soon arrange a meeting with the residents and hikers who frequent KM2.5 - popularly known as Point 84 - where there is a rest area," said Mr Cheah. Meanwhile, residents in Tanjung Bungah are worried after several landslides also occurred there at about 11pm on Thursday.

A resident said mounds of earth and a big boulder crashed down from the hill on Wednesday morning. Another landslide occurred the following day.

"The authorities should take extra precautionary measures and act fast when such incidents occur.

"I think the developers did not have a proper plan when carrying out their projects and this is the consequence," he said.

Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu said he reported to the Penang Municipal Council upon learning about the landslide.

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