Thesun 2009-03-13 Page09 Two Hillslope Projects Allowed To Continue

theSun

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| FRIDAY MARCH 13 2009

news without borders by Himanshu Bhatt [email protected]

GEORGE TOWN: Two controversial hillslope development projects in Tanjung Bungah have been allowed to continue but are being closely monitored by the local authorities and the residents nearby. The projects – Surin by Bolton Bhd, and Beverly Hills by Taman Ratu Developers Sdn Bhd – were slapped with temporary stop-work orders by the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) late last year. Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu said yesterday the projects are proceeding again but will need to comply with stringent guidelines. He said the enforcement was necessary in the wake of safety concerns raised by residents in the surrounding areas. Teh said the MPPP is monitoring the developers’ activities, including the cutting of the hillslopes. He said the residents are con-

Two hillslope projects allowed to continue cerned that the gradient of the slopes on which the projects are being built may be excessive. “The developers also need to undertake drainage works according to MPPP’s specifications,” he said. Teh said a stream was believed to be flowing in the hill. The authorities are also checking to ensure there are no indiscriminate rubbish and earth deposits in the area. In September, floodwaters streamed from the slopes into houses in the Chee Seng Gardens area at the bottom of the hill.

The residents have held protests and questioned how the two projects were approved by the MPPP in the first place. The state government had in December last year formed an independent panel of engineering advisers to monitor and evaluate the conditions of all hillslopes that are being developed. It is understood that the panel, headed by Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) chairman Prof Dr Eric Goh, is tasked with reviewing weekly geotechnical reports submitted by the developers for their projects

Gunman warned of plans in chatroom pg 10

No reason to deny Penang LCCT, says Lim by Bernard Cheah [email protected]

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng says the federal government has no reason to deny Penang a low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) when it can build one in Sabah whose airport earnings are five times less than Penang’s.

In a press statement yesterday, he said that from 2000 to 2008, Penang International Airport earned profits of RM493.3 million, compared to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, which garnered RM96.1 million. “Although the profit earned by Malaysia Airports Bhd (MAHB) in Penang is five times more than Kota Kinabalu,

there is no LCCT in Penang,” he said. “Instead, Kota Kinabalu has an LCCT, which cost RM200 million.” Stressing that he does not object to an LCCT in Sabah, Lim said a terminal should be developed in Penang “which is among the highest profit-earners for the last eight years among the airports in Malaysia”.

Panel begins probe into Kugan post-mortem reports KUALA LUMPUR: The special committee set up by the Health Ministry to investigate the two post-mortem reports into the death of A. Kugan, the suspected car thief who died in police custody, held its first meeting yesterday. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the committee, which has six members, would carry out a thorough investigation into the two reports. “They have been asked to expedite the probe and the findings will be made public,” he told reporters at Serdang Hospital. Asked about the deceased’s family not wanting the Health Ministry to be involved in the investigation, Liow said it needed to be done to protect the credibility and professionalism of the ministry. Kugan, 23, was detained at the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya on Jan 15 on suspected involvement in a syndicate that specialised in stealing luxury cars. He died while in police custody on Jan 20. The first-mortem report done at Serdang Hospital indicated he died of fluid accumulation in the lungs and the second, conducted by University Malaya Medical Centre at the request of his family, showed his death was due to multi organ failure as a result of severe beating. Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul

Gani Patail had classified the case as murder on Jan 23. Liow also announced that all poor kidney patients needing dialysis treatment will be given free e-poeitin injections from April 1. This is in addition to the RM50 subsidy enjoyed by the patients presently. The free injections, to be given three times weekly, would save the patients RM30 to RM60 an injection. “The injections are needed to prevent anaemia as e-poeitin helps to increase the haemoglobin level. Without them, patients will suffer and endure low quality of life,” he said after launching World Kidney Day 2009 at the hospital. Liow said the free injections would cost the government RM12.64 million annually. Some 2,700 kidney patients are registered and undergoing dialysis treatment at 454 dialysis centres nationwide. Eight more dialysis centres would be set up at district hospitals in Pahang, Terengganu, Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Sabah to cope with the rising number of patients. The new dialysis centres are at Cameron Highlands, Setiu in Terengganu, Jasin in Malacca, Jempol in Negri Sembilan, and Tuaran, Kunak, Kuala Penyu and Pitas in Sabah. – Bernama