Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has urged the Penang government to stop all hillslope development following recent landslides.

"Please do not (let it) proceed, because yesterday, there were landslides in Tanjung Bungah. Roads and houses (were affected). 

"Luckily (the houses) were not handed over yet," said Wan Junaidi in Ampang today. 

A heavy storm caused massive flooding and chaos in Penang yesterday. The Tanjung Bungah area was affected by several landslides. 

On Oct 22, a landslide at a construction site in Tanjung Bungah claimed 11 lives. 

Wan Junaidi, who is also Santubong MP, said the Penang state government should prioritise flood mitigation projects if it had extra funds. 

The minister, however, refused to say whether the alleged overdevelopment in Penang had contributed to the worsening flood condition in the state. 

"I do not want to politicise the issue; I'm just saying there has been excessive rain that caused the flooding in Penang. 

"But if there is a downpour and we have cleared our forests and hills, it will decrease the water retention capacity of the place, and eventually cause floods. 

"Furthermore, if the irrigation system is not sufficient, or is clogged by mud, or debris, as we saw happen in Kuala Lumpur the other day, then flooding is imminent. It (the flooding) is not caused by a single factor," he said. 

Wan Junaidi expressed hope that flooding issues will be brought to an end in the 11th Malaysia Plan, through the Sungai Pinang flood barrier project. 

"Starting this November, until March (next year), we will implement 16 mega projects worth RM4.3 billion. 

"This is not an election project, but it was planned in 2016, " he said.