Rotten and weakened tree roots, along with rain-softened soil, are believed to be the causes of a rockfall on Jalan Paya Terubong last Friday. The incident led to the death of a foreign motorcyclist, who is believed to have collided with a rock measuring 0.45 by 0.36 metres.
Zairil Khir Johari, Penang Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman, stated that these findings emerged from a technical study conducted by the state Public Works Department (JKR), in collaboration with slope safety specialists Pintas Utama Sdn Bhd (PUSB) and the Penang City Council’s Engineering Department (Geotech), at the site of the incident.
He instructed JKR and the MBPP to carry out a thorough investigation at the accident location. This is to determine the cause of the rock movement and to conduct a slope stability study, following the initial report of the event. “The results of the study also found that the stone block is believed to have rolled down the slope and collided with another block in the roadside ditch before completely falling onto the road surface. Based on the impact of the broken stone and the position of the victim, it is suspected that the victim collided with a stone that had fallen earlier. Not crushed by rocks as reported,” he clarified in a statement.
As a precautionary measure, Zairil mentioned that the Penang Public Works Department has implemented a Traffic Management Plan (TMP), installing rockfall warning signs throughout the affected location. Furthermore, canvas sheets have been deployed to prevent rocks from falling directly onto the road, serving as an immediate solution while a long-term mitigation strategy is being developed at the departmental level. He urged road users to exercise increased caution when navigating this stretch of road.
Earlier reports from the media stated that a Bangladeshi construction worker tragically died after his motorcycle skidded upon being struck by a rock believed to have descended from the hillside on Jalan Paya Terubong towards Farlim. Northeast district deputy police chief, Supt Lee Swee Sake, disclosed that investigations revealed the incident occurred at 12.45 am. It was suspected that a 0.5-metre-sized rock, weighing approximately 50 kilogrammes, unexpectedly fell from the hillside upon the victim’s arrival at Jalan Paya Terubong.
