According to the report, pictures taken by a drone show two excavators near the top of a hill, seemingly clearing a pathway to the top. The pictures also show patches of hillslope being cleared for a banana plantation.

When the pictures were forwarded to Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, he expressed shock and called for a report from the land office and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).

He wants to know why no action has been taken against the culprits, noting that the bald patches on the hill, which were getting bigger, could trigger a landslide, endangering residents living at the foot of the hill.

“If it rains heavily, there could even be mudflows,” he was quoted as saying. However, he said, he was thankful that the state government had set up a Penang Hill Land Working Committee to look into hill clearance.

The portal also forwarded the pictures to MBPP’s engineering department deputy director A. Rajendran who took immediate action. His officers rushed to the site and told the workers to stop work immediately.

He said a stop-work order would be issued by the council today.

Recent news reports have highlighted the issue of hill clearing in Penang, with the Penang Hill Land Working Committee revealing some estimated 90 ha have been illegally deforested or infringed upon.