The Petaling Jaya City Council has revealed that the entire Bukit Gasing area on the Petaling Jaya side was declared a landslide hotspot six months ago.
In a statement, its Corporate Communications Unit said this decision was based on findings from an investigation by its Engineering Department on Jan 31.
It is believed that Bukit Gasing is part of a list of hillslopes marked as high-risk landslide hazards in Selangor.
The Selangor government had identified 150 hillslopes in the state that were at high risk of landslides following a landslide in March that claimed four lives in Taman Bukit Permai 2, Ampang.
Pandan Indah assemblyperson Izham Hashim who reported the state’s finding on the 150 sites three months ago could not be reached for comments despite numerous attempts.
No further details of the 150 locations nor the progress in landslide mitigation projects were provided since that announcement.
Meanwhile, Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Rajiv Rishyakaran said so far, the 150 high-risk landslide areas had not been discussed in state assembly meetings.
The city council was responding to a Malaysiakini report on June 11, that highlighted temporary measures taken to protect eroded hill slopes, in the form of canvases, which were tattered and disappearing behind forest vegetation.
The city council explained that the slopes identified in the report were part of the investigation carried out in January and that they were all on vacant lots which were privately owned.
However, unfinished construction atop two of the exposed slopes was visible from the roadside.
Photographs taken by Malaysiakini on June 10 and 23, show notable differences in the deterioration of the canvas covering the slopes and the continuous erosion taking place beneath it, as it had been raining heavily during this period.
Public at risk
The bright blue canvas sheets covering three exposed slopes along Jalan 5/64 have put a spotlight on the hazards that lay in wait for residents and the public who exercise there, should the hillslope come thundering down.
A double landslide had occurred along the same road in May 2013 which uprooted trees, damaged cars and rendered the road inaccessible.
The road leading up to the highest point on Bukit Gasing is popular among Petaling Jaya residents, including senior citizens who walk up and down the road as part of their daily exercise regime.
“In March, acting on public safety and in accordance with Section 101 (5) of the Local Government Act 1976, the council took temporary action to cover the exposed slopes," said the city council.
It did not respond if this action was taken before or after the landslide in Ampang in the same month.
It said the exposed slopes were covered with tarpaulin sheets to prevent water from flowing directly over the soil surface.
Notices issued to private lot owners
The city council had also sent a notice to the owners of the lots with the exposed slopes, to carry out immediate slope stability works within a stipulated time.
“This is so that the existing slope structure does not give way to slope failure of a larger scale.
“Failure to comply within the stipulated period, the private lot owners stand to face legal action.
“The council will not be responsible for any slope failures that occur on private property because it is under the full responsibility of the respective lot owners,” the statement warned.
To ensure this, the city council expects private lot owners in Bukit Gasing to carry out period slope maintenance.
This is to prevent any damage to neighbouring lots and other public infrastructure facilities owned by the council. - Mkini
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