Emotions ran high among the 200-odd crowd who attended Penang Forum’s dialogue on the recent flood and landslide at the Penang Teow Chew Association premises on Chulia Street yesterday.

Several members heckled DAP Pulau Tikus assemblyperson Yap Soo Huey when she gave her views on the two disasters - the massive floods on the island on Sept 15 and Tanjung Bungah hillslope landslide on Oct 21 that killed 11 construction workers.

They raised their voices, chiding her for defending the state government, instead of questioning the lack of enforcement on hillside development projects.

However, the sole DAP representative who attended the forum dubbed 'Penang Floods: A Call to Action' remained calm, pointing out the different guidelines between federal and state governments on hillslope development.

“Federal guidelines allow development of up to 300 metres on hillslope, while the state only allows 250 metres. There are two views now, and both sides do not talk to each other, but can we have a discussion? I would like to hear your views on this,” Yap said...