A red alert has been sent out to Penangites to exercise caution and to stay clear of roads leading to Penang Hill as massive landslides have been occurring in the area over the week.

NONE Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari ( right ) conveyed the message after a meeting held with the Public Works Department (JKR) and Forestry Department.

Zairil said there have been worrying landslides at 13 locations around Penang Hill, and luckily there have been no casualties.

“These areas are very dangerous now so to all hikers and drivers up the hills, please very careful especially during this rainy season,” Zairil told a press conference today.

Of the 13, 10 are minor landslides and the other three major ones, he added, showing reporters photographs of the incidents caused by the heavy downpour of the past few days.

Accompanying him were Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Cheah Kah Peng and Penang Municipal Councillor Chris Lee Chun Kit.

The three locations are at 2.1km, 2.5km (or station 84) and 4km, which are heavily used by residents or hikers up the iconic hill.

Roads badly damaged

Zairil said the worst damage occurred at 4km, where half of the road had collapsed. This stretch, together with one on 21km, will be repaired by the JKR, at a cost of RM2million or RM1 million per slope.

NONE He added that the road at 2.5km was also badly damaged as a gazebo there, often used for recreation purposes, had collapsed. The road is under the state’s jurisdiction and is too costly to repair.

“We are planning to meet residents and hikers who frequent the place to decide the future of this area. We want it to be a community effort,” Zairil said.

Cheah said the state was working closely with the JKR and Forestry Department to keep the place safe.

NONE Repair works are already taking place in stages but it may take up to three months to be completed, depending on the weather, Cheah said.

“We are planning a site visit to identify the cause of the landslides, including finding trees which may be sick or risky (roots loosened), for they may fall, causing injuries to people,” he said.

Lee advised hikers to exercise caution when using the roads and to stay clear of the area during the rainy season as the “slopes are very slippery” during this time.

The last massive landslide around Penang Hill occurred in 1984 and the state does not want to see a repeat of the incident, Lee added.