NGO representatives from Penang Forum who visited Bukit Relau - the controversial 'botak' (bald) hill - left unsatisfied as they are not convinced that mitigation works will lead to the hill’s restoration, as promised by the Penang government.

During the visit, the situation turned slightly tense when the NGOs confronted Penang Island City Council (MBPP) officials on the worsening condition of the hill.

At one one point, MBPP president Patahiyah Ismail tried to mediate between her officer and the NGOs, saying “we are all friends”, while she advised her Engineering Department deputy director A Rajendran to “cool down and talk properly”.

Rajendran felt forced to raise his voice when activist Rebecca Duckett and PKR Batu Uban assemblyperson Dr T Jayabalan kept interrupting his briefing.

“Everyone, please listen to the explanation from the engineers first before taking your turns to comment,” he said, in a slightly raised voice.

Duckett wanted to know if the MBPP would approve any housing projects on the hill.

She also interrupted the briefing on mitigation works by geotechnical engineer Khoo Koon Tai, and questioned why they were not carrying out restoration of the hill instead.

“Restoration work will bring the hill back to its original appearance,” she said, and asked whether the company doing the work had consulted experts on the matter.

Duckett also reminded the MBPP that it has an “obligation” to restore the hill.

Jayabalan criticised the council for not consulting him - the elected representative for the area - or the residents who lived under the hill before it begun the mitigation plan.

To this, Rajendran replied, “The council's door is always open and lawmakers can always request for any information.”

MBPP councillor Lim Mah Hui disagreed, and complained that the council’s door had actually been shut down for three years as MBPP never entertained his requests to visit the site.

Rajendran countered, saying: “The site was not safe during that time.

“Mitigation work had to be done first to ensure the slope is safe and prevent incidents of mudslide from creating nuisance in the surrounding area, and MBPP is always monitoring the work of its engineers.”

Illegally cleared in 2013

The hill was illegally cleared in 2013, but went unnoticed as the politicians were busy with the May 2013 general election.

After pictures of the bald hill started circulating in the social media, the culprit - developer General Accomplishment Sdn Bhd - was charged in court and upon conviction, was slapped with a fine of RM30,000 and ordered to carry out mitigation work.

However, environmentalists felt that the RM30,000 fine was insufficient to prevent future crimes of illegal clearing. The maximum fine for such activities is RM50,000.

Opponents of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s government have joined the chorus to condemn the state for not caring for Penang’s pristine environment.

Other than Duckett and Mah Hui, other representatives from Penang Forum who visited the hill were environmentalist Dr Leong Yueh Kwong, biologist Kam Suan Pheng, Aliran’s Anil Netto and Malaysian Nature Society’s Kanda Kumar.

Other than Jayabalan, also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon, state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng, Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons RSN Rayer (Seri Delima), Wong Hon Wai (Air Itam) and Umno assemblyperson Shariful Azhar Othman (Bertam).

Razif Ahmad, representing landowner General Accomplishment, was also present.

On whether any project would be permitted on the hill, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow, who was also at the site, said “anyone can submit their plan but MBPP has yet to receive any application”.

Chow also clarified that the term ‘mitigation’ was often used instead of ‘restoration’ but the state was making an effort to save the hill.

“Regarding restoration works, the chief minister has already invited representatives from Penang Forum to give their feedback to the consultants working on the matter,” Chow said.

Meanwhile, Khoo tried to assure the activists that the current mitigation works, including roads, were not constructed with future development in mind.

Responding to Duckett on whether the council had sought expert opinion on mitigation work, Khoo said he is a geotechnical engineer with 30 over years experience and is qualified for the job.

He explained that since the hillslope is extremely steep, the plan submitted to MBPP emphasised on mitigation works to stabilise the slope.

"By planting grass and placing fibre mats to help grass grow, the slope is now stable and has ceased from any further erosion. Other mitigation works can now be conducted in a safer condition,” Khoo said.

"So far, the progress of mitigation work is around 60 percent. We expect to complete the other 40 percent in six months. We shall then propose to the landowner to also plant trees.”

He said the greenery will be restored on the hill after mitigation is completed, but some inevitable trimmings needed to be done to stabilise the slope during the construction period.

Razif said the landowner would focus on mitigation for now and bear the cost, which has already amounted to RM20 million, adding that the entire mitigation work would cost RM50 million.