The Penang Hills Watch (PHW), an independent monitoring team that spots for erosions and illegal land clearing on hills, said its checks showed the company had ignored stop-work orders from the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) in 2016 and also last year.

This comes after a 120m hill lock near the quarry in Teluk Bahang, was found stripped down despite two stop-work orders issued last year.

PHW said based on Google Earth imagery, a stream can be seen flowing through the quarry site before discharging into the Teluk Bahang bay, barely 1 km from the fish cages in the bay.

MBPP lodged a police report against the landowner last month.

“The landowner was supposed to appoint an engineer to rehabilitate the site.

“It is, therefore, puzzling as to why quarrying activities have continued since the stop-work order was issued on May 13, 2016,” the group said.

PHW also questioned why stop-work orders were not enforced.

“We urge that stern action be taken to enforce the stop-work order and prevent further destruction of the hill slopes. Rehabilitation of the denuded slopes must be carried out soonest. The environment and the health of people cannot be compromised.”

The group has also submitted a report on land clearing activities to the state government in 2017.

The state’s local government committee was then headed by current chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

FMT has contacted MBPP for comment.