NOTICE

This Guideline has been prepared for the proper planning andcontrol of hillsite development activities in Penang. It is to be

used by implementing agencies, developers, engineers,contractors, property owners and the public as a guide in

planning, developing and maintaining hillsitesand the surrounding areas.

This Guideline is applied by MPPP and MPSP in consideringand evaluating for approval applications for planning permit

submitted via the state One-Stop Centre (OSC).

The States planning policy at the material timeshall take precedence.

Penang Island has an area of 285 sq km andof which about 40% are lands of Class 3 andClass 4 with slope gradient exceeding 25.A significant portion of them is privatelyowned land and the rest belongs to the stategovernment.

This Guideline aims to improve safety andthe environment of hillsite developments. TheState Government has appointed the HillsiteDevelopment Advisory Panel Committee,which developed the Guideline after reviewingexisting guidelines, lessons learnt from slopefailures and landslides as well as studyinggood practices.

The Guideline will serve as the main referencein considerations of planning approval forhillsite development applications, and to beused by all the relevant agencies.

Penang Local Governments (MPPP & MPSP)are to strengthen their Geotechnical Unit,which processes and approves applicationsfor hillsite developments, followed by strictenforcement.

A monitoring team will be established toensure compliance in construction andmonitoring performance of slopes. The unitwill initially recruit contract staff with slopeengineering expertise, and eventually has itsown permanent experienced engineeringstaff.

YAB Tuan Lim Guan Eng

An advisory panel of experts will be appointedto help the Geotechnical Unit. The Panel shallmeet regularly to provide input and trainingto the staff of the unit and that of allstakeholders.

Due care and diligence of all the staff of thestakeholders are needed to use and implementthe Guideline to mitigate landslides andprevent loss of lives from landslides whilefacilitating sustainable land use for the well-being of Penangites.

Penalty for non-compliance will be betterstated for ease of enforcement.

Let us all work together towards a safe andgreen Penang.

YAB Tuan Lim Guan EngChief Minister of Penang

0 - 15 = 52%

Legend

> 15 - 25 = 9%

> 25 - 35 = 19%

> 35 = 20%

Tuan Haji Zainuddin Ahamad

Hillsite development has been tightened with guidelinesfrom federal government agencies following the collapseof Block 1 of the Highland Towers in 1993, with the intentionof improving safety for developments.

This new set of guidelines for hillsite development has beenspecifically formulated for Penang, and to be used by allstake holders. The Advisory Panel, who developed theguideline, comprised slope engineering experts from Malaysiaand local practising engineers from Penang.

Top state and federal government officers having experiencedealing with approvals and control of hillsite developmentsalso assisted the Panel.

The Guideline has gone through rigorous review processesincluding a public forum involving all stakeholders, both inthe public and private sectors.

Thus, this Guideline for Hillsite Development can now provideclear and consistent application procedures together withtransparent approving mechanisms and controls duringconstruction.

The plinth areas for Class 3 and Class 4 lands have alsobeen reduced by more than 5% for Class 3 and about 20%for Class 4. This is to enhance the safety of slopes andpreserve more green areas.

Tuan Haji Zainuddin AhamadDirectorPenang Town & Country Planning Department

Table 1 : Slope classification for design purposes 11Table 2 : Submission requirements 12Table 3 : Qualifications of Engineers 13Table 4 : Appointment of Geotechnical Engineer and

Independent Checker 14Table 5 : Construction supervision requirements 14Table 6 : Colour Code for Terrain Mapping 16Table 7 : Criteria for Selecting a Competent Engineer 19

List of Tables 5List of Figures 5List Appendices 5Abbreviations 6Objectives 7Towards A Safe & Green Penang 8Major Considerations 9Classification of Slopes 11Submission Requirements 15Appointment of Competent Engineers 18Maintenance Inspection 20The Way Forward 22Appendices 23Acknowledgement 32

Fig. 1 : Terrain Map of Penang Island 2Fig. 2 : Terrain Map of Seberang Perai 3FIg. 3 : Buffer Zone 10Fig. 4 : Development on Slope 10Fig. 5 : Hillsite Development Plan Submission Flow Chart 16Fig. 6 : Typical Inspection Procedure 21

Appendix 1. Proposed Format for Geotechnical Report 24Appendix 2. Independent Checker Report format 28Appendix 3. Criteria for a relevant experienced engineer 29Appendix 4. Checklist for Maintenance Manual 31

For easier understanding, the following are acronyms used in the Guideline:

BEM Board of Engineers, Malaysia

CKC Cawangan Kejuruteraan Cerun (Hillsite Engineering Division)

GE Geotechnical Engineer

JAS Jabatan Alam Sekitar (Department of Environment)

JKR Jabatan Kerja Raya (Public Works Department)

JMG Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains (Minerals and Geoscience Department)

JPBD Jabatan Perancang Bandar dan Desa (Town and Country Planning Department)

JPS Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (Department of Irrigation and Drainage)

MASMA Manual Saliran Mesra Alam (Environmental Friendly Urban Drainage Manual)

MPPP Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang (Penang Island Municipal Council)

MPSP Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai (Seberang Perai Municipal Council)

OSC One Stop Centre

PBT Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (Local Authority)

PSP Principal Submitting Person (Planner, Architect or Engineer)

SP Submitting Person

(Engineer Civil & Structural and/or Mechanical & Electrical)

UBBL Uniform Building By-laws

The Penang Safety Guideline For Hillsite Development 2012 is to streamline boththe existing federal and state guidelines for all hillsite developments with the aim toimprove slope safety and enhance the environment.

This Guideline will no doubt mitigate the risk of landslides when used and implementeddiligently by all the stakeholders.

The Hillsite Development Advisory Panel Committee, appointed by the Penang Government,has reviewed the existing guidelines and lessons learnt from slope failures and landslidesas well as current good and safe practices.

The Guideline, among others:

Has made clearer classification of slopes for ease of implementation at planning stage.

Has stated the duties and responsibilities of Engineers and Independent Checkersduring design and construction stages.

Requires Independent Checkers to visit project sites during constructions and reportany non-compliance directly to the local authority for prompt enforcement.

Has defined better the qualification and experience of key personnel (geotechnicalengineer and independent checkers) to ensure quality of works for hillsite developmentsduring the design and construction stages.

Has made it mandatory for developers to engage qualified engineers and independentcheckers - having the required expertise and experience on hillsite developments andsufficient capacity to design and supervise the constructions.

Requires contractors to comply with the design drawings and specifications for theslope works.

Has reduced the requirement for plinth area (maximum allowable hard surface footprint)for buildings on Class 3 and Class 4 hillside lands, with the intention of preservingmore natural green areas.

Requires engineered slopes including earth retaining systems to incorporate greenfeatures to enhance Penangs natural environment.

The Guideline addresses and upgrades existing safety measures and outlines better projectimplementation procedures and effective enforcement. It strives to inculcate good slopedesign, construction and maintenance culture. With its proper implementation, theGuideline will inspire confidence in the safety of hillsite developments in Penang.

The advisory panel which drew up the Guideline will continue to assist the authoritiesto effectively implement and enforce it. This is to ensure that developers, engineers,contractors and property owners in hillsite areas comply with good engineering practicesrelating to the stability of hill slopes.

Still lingering in the Malaysian publics consciousness are the many hill land failures whichcaused tragedies over the past 20 years.

The major causes of slope failures can be summarized as follows:

1. Design inadequate ground investigation, lack of understanding of engineeringanalysis and design.

2. Construction lack of quality assurance and quality control by contractors and lackof proper site supervision by engineers.

3. Maintenance lack of slope maintenance culture is prevalent in both the public andprivate sectors.

4. Communication lack of communication amongst various parties involved inconstruction.

The resulting loss of lives, destruction to public and private properties as well as theensuing legal tangles that may be still ongoing have triggered various reactions; therehad been conferences, seminars, dialogues, more stringent rules and regulations andbetter practices for hillsite development.

The Guideline makes a concerted attempt to incorporate all the lessons learnt.

Numerous guidelines for hillsite developments from various agencies have been produced

after the collapse of Block 1 of Highland Towers in 1993. This Guideline aims to simplify

existing procedures and to improve the safety of hillsit