The Penang Forum coalition of NGOs has responded to the new allocations for landslide prevention in the state's Budget for 2018 as a proactive measure by the government. 

However, while the NGOs lauded the state leadership for the positive move aimed at progressing beyond mere crisis management, it stressed that the RM10 million allocation for hillslope protection along with a study on climate change is “small” in comparison to allocations for other projects in the state.

“While we do not object to the diversification and development of other infrastructure including public transport and the arts, there is a need to revise the budget so that the allocation for hillslope protection (including studies, monitoring and rehabilitation) is expanded,” the NGOs said in a statement.

“With increasing development pressure, the consequences will be dire if the proper management and protection of exposed soil surfaces and hillslopes are not given priority.”

“The prevention of landslides and the rehabilitation of damaged forests, hills and slopes and rivers should be among our top priorities," the statement continued.

They were responding to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who said while tabling the Penang Budget 2018 yesterday that his administration wanted to be “proactive” in dealing with environmental issues in a “preventive mode,” apart from crisis management.

The move follows two major disasters in Penang over two months - a massive flood on Sept 15 and deadly landslide killing 11 in Tanjung Bungah on Oct 21.

At the state legislative assembly yesterday, Lim had said that climate change has caused a paradigm shift, resulting in the state’s infrastructure suddenly being rendered obsolete and outdated to deal with new challenges.

The RM10 million allocation will be used for a study on climate change and illegal farming, as it has been observed that landslides occur less in developed areas, compared to undeveloped areas, Lim added.

Meanwhile, Penang Forum said the allocated funds should not be used to protect slopes illegally damaged by developers or individuals.

This includes slopes where developments are taking place, and where the developer or individual should be held liable, they said.

“If the state spends money to protect, mitigate, rehabilitate or restore slopes that are illegally damaged, it should recover the cost from the perpetrators,” said the NGO coalition.

They said the funds should be used to protect slopes on state land damaged by natural causes and for regular monitoring of slopes in past projects and development sites where there was a lack of monitoring.

“Funds should also be used for strengthening the capacity of the governing agencies to carry out regular monitoring of hillslopes and oversee and do regular inspections of ongoing development projects to ensure compliance to guidelines for controlling soil erosion,” they said.