LETTER | The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) is deeply saddened by the landslide on Oct 19 in Bukit Kukus, Penang, at a construction site which impacted containers used as temporary workers’ quarters and buried nine workers.

The engineering of earthworks at construction sites is not always simple and straightforward.

There are numerous challenges associated with the many different soil conditions at different sites, the water and drainage patterns there, the often changing and unpredictable weather conditions as well as construction constraints related to time, costs and qualified staffing.

It is best to allow the authorities the opportunity to conduct a proper and thorough investigation to identify the reasons for the incident and more importantly, to ensure that any failings be addressed and not to be repeated.

Should negligence be found on the part of developers, contractors, sub-contractors, architects, engineers or any parties involved, appropriate actions must be taken against them by the relevant enforcement agencies.

It is important that everyone involved in a construction project plays an active role in ensuring safety.

All engineering aspects of the construction project should be designed and endorsed by a professional engineer who is qualified to do the appropriate analysis, calculations, drawings and specifications to ensure that the engineering aspects of the construction are structurally stable with sufficient details for construction and with considerations for safe construction consequences.

Besides structural stability, in many instances of landslips, the causative factors could also be due to improper and inadequate drainage during heavy and incessant rainfall.

It is important that these temporary drainage diversions and erosion protection measures as designed needs to be constructed accordingly and regularly maintained after each rain event.

IEM has a Position Paper on “Updated Policies and Procedures for Engineering Control of Hill-Site Developments”. These guidelines were prepared precisely to permit the identification and mitigation of circumstances that could lead to potential landslides.

The institution is willing to offer our technical assistance and expertise in any official investigation into the tragic event as well as contribute to ensuing proceedings investigation.

As a learned society with over 48,000 members and affiliated to several international engineering organisations, IEM is recognised locally and internationally as the learned society and professional body representing a wide cross sections of engineering practice, many of its members are learned and experienced practitioners in their own field of expertise who will be able to offer their expert opinions on this tragic event.

The writer is the president of IEM.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.