IPOH: The Perak state government has denied allegations that welfare assistance was not provided to the families of two victims of the quarry landslide at Keramat Pulai, Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands here.

       Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said his special officer and Kinta district officer Meor Hezbullah Meor Abd Malik had channelled various forms of assistance to the families of the two victims since the incident occurred last Tuesday (March 8).

       “I also received information that the owner of this quarry company has also provided cash assistance to the victim’s family.

       “So, if the assistance given so far is not enough, they (the victims’ families) can report to the District Officer, and if it is beyond his means, the menteri besar will take action, but so far, I am sure all the welfare needs of the victims’ families have been taken into due consideration,” he said.

       He was speaking to reporters after inspecting the search and rescue (SAR) operation here on Wednesday (March 16), accompanied by Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid.

       In the meantime, Saarani said the request from one of the victim’s family members to participate in the search and rescue operation could not be granted due to security factors.

       “We cannot allow anyone else except rescue experts,” he said, adding that rescue teams had to be extra cautious as several landslides had occurred before.

       “If there is another landslide, it could lead to more accidents or fatalities,” he said.

       Meanwhile, Saarani said the search and rescue team had been using metal detectors to locate an excavator under the rubble.

       However he said the area could also contain iron ore, which could lead to inaccurate metal detector results.

       “Thirteen controlled explosions have been carried out to locate the excavator, but so far nothing has been found,” he said, adding that this could take a long time.

       The incident at 9.15am last Tuesday left two men, Kheow Loo Siew Soon, 49, and Itam Lasoh, 43, trapped under debris, while two others, namely Mohd Razli Suhaimi, 35, and Pan Tam, 38, were injured. – Bernama