Penang to audit number of landslides which originated from private land

PENANG will conduct an audit on how many landslides originated from private land as the state grapples with several incidents over the past three days – one whcih cut off traffic from the Jalan Tun Sardon in Balik Pulau - a main road artery.

State executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari said that the state with the state public works department (JKR) were now screening the number of landsides coming from both the public (government) and private landowners.

Despite efforts by both the two city councils and JKR, landslides continued to rock Penang over the past three days, causing a severe traffic congestion.

Some quarters are pinning the blame on private landowners, who refused to trim trees within their respective land boundaries, causing them to be uprooted during strong winds.

Zairil told journalists this after inspecting mitigation works at Jalan Tun Sardon.

Later, a PWD official conceded that some private landowners were reluctant to trim trees in the district because they formed part of the lucrative durian orchard ecology.

"Balik Pulau is a district full of durian trees so it is indeed a challenge."

Several landslides inundated Jalan Tun Sardon which leads into the Balik Pulau township.

The main hilly trunk road is closed for the next 24-hours pending attempts by PWD engineers to clear the debris, which is also hampered because strong winds and driving rain continue to besiege Penang today.

Zairil said that the climate change is one factor which derails the previous mitigation efforts by the local authorities in clearing the drainage and trimming public trees.

"It overwhelms previous efforts by us. We just need to battle the rough weather patterns which we are experiencing now. The global weather has gone topsy turvy."

Landslides have also occurred in Tanjung Bungah, Paya Terubong, Air Itam, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Kumbar.

Altogether, there are more than 15 uprooted trees throughout the state.

Zairil urged road users to plan their journey as some roads are closed due to landslides and flash floods. - October 24, 2025.