OCTOBER 27 — On the morning of Oct 21, 2017, a landslide occurred at a housing construction site in Tanjung Bungah and 11 precious lives were lost. It has been reported that 10 of those who died were foreign workers and 1 was a Malaysian. The  Penang Pakatan state government was quick to respond by setting up a commission of inquiry to get to the root of the disaster which is commendable.

Hope the truth about this disaster would compel the federal government and State governments to come with more stringent measures to protect the safety of workers besides putting a stop to man made ecological disasters.The question is would the results of the inquiry propel the Pakatan Harapan and Barisan National political elites to come up with economic model or blue print that would pursue sustainable development that preserves the natural environment?

The foundational issue here is not merely about the failure to comply with work or environmental standards, or who was responsible or whether proper approvals were obtain. It about understanding the nature of economic system, that plunders without constraints.  

It is obvious that the framework of the commission of inquiry centers on the cause and effect of negligence, rather the fundamental cause of the disaster which is broad and rooted in the type of economic development that is pursued. There is a relation between the type economic ideology that is pursued and its implications to the environment.

In any man made ecological disaster it is the working poor who are in the margins that suffer the most. 

The term margin has great significance because it entails a system of economy where maximization of profits is the sole objective at the expense nature’s capital. Significant cost cutting takes place so that profits are maximized. Credible safety measures are ignored, what more if it’s to do with the safety of cheap foreign laborers. It reveals a concrete connection between the economy, environment and safety.  

The hill top housing projects reveal this interconnection.  Hills constitute an important part of the physical, biological and cultural landscape. It consists of sensitive ecosystems and is prone to erosion and landslides. The lack of balance of the ecosystem due to economic tinkering creates an imbalance and results in disaster.

It is about understanding the finest aspect of the ecosystem and respecting its limitation.

The landslide disaster in Tanjung Bungah yet reveals another fundamental question about Pakatan Harapan’s policy on the environment?

Till today, Pakatan Harapan Leaders have not come out with environmental blueprint if they come to power. While the coalition have been focus on corruption, it has paid little attention to environmental corruption such hill top development or the erosion of coastal ecosystem and  reducing pollution in villages and cities. This entails coming up with comprehensive environmental blue print for the whole country. It time that those who seek change to persuade Pakatan Harapan elites to come with an environmental blue print.

The question is would Pakatan Harapan abandon neo liberal economics and embrace a sustainable economic system that protects natural environmental capital for future generations? It is in fact a million dollar question.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.