Penang Hill folk on rocky ground
GEORGE TOWN: ONGOING works on the slope of Penang Hill are giving those living in nearby Pokok Ceri the jitters.
During the heavy rain of recent days, the residents were alarmed by the water gushing down the hill near their homes.
They believe the works on the slope have affected the water flow down the slope above their homes, and would eventually destabilise the hillside, which is heavy with many boulders.
"Water has never streamed down so heavily before. The plant-covered ground up there used to be able to absorb the water.
"But it is different now and I think it has something to do with the works up there," said farmer Lim Keat Seng, 45.
Lim and fellow resident Goh Hock Sim, 23, recently contacted Air Putih Barisan Nasional coordinator Tang Heap Seng to voice their concerns.
Tang, who brought reporters up the slope with him, said he believed the works conducted by a private landowner to set up a farm had changed the water flow down the hill.
He said a proper drainage system was also lacking on the construction site and on the cleared hill path.
"The residents are worried about the cumulative effects of these factors.
"We hope the authorities will quickly look into this," he said.
It was reported last month that the landowner was establishing a nutmeg plantation on a 10.8ha site in Penang Hill. Complaints that road works on the slope were done without a permit were raised.
The landowner, Soon Chee Leng, had responded by saying that he was not embarking on a development project on the slope and was only building an access road into his farm.
He said work had stopped since August 2010, and asked why complaints were being raised now.
"I have said this many times but if people are raising issues now, we will wait for the authorities to finish their investigations and act accordingly."
He said the rocky slope with boulders could naturally disperse the water flow and prevent floods in the area.
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