KUALA LUMPUR: Residents of Taman Melawati have expressed concerns over a series of landslides occurring in their residential area, following the landslide on Jalan E6 on Tuesday.
Taman Melawati Residents Association Kuala Lumpur chairman, Azhari Abd Taharim, said several slopes in the neighbourhood have been identified as at risk of similar incidents if swift action is not taken by the relevant authorities.
He said that the hillside along Jalan Kolam Air, Jalan G1, G2, and the main road of the neighbourhood are among the areas that residents have identified as potential landslide zones.
However, Azhari said they are waiting for the Ampang Jaya Municipal (MPAJ) Local Plan Study 2035, which is scheduled to be published this Sunday, to see whether the 'hotspots' they have identified are included in the study.
"All these hotspots could lead to another landslide if swift action is not taken by the authorities," Azhari told the New Straits Times. He expressed hope that the report would be made public by MPAJ.
He also hoped that proper terraces, slope walls, or retaining walls could be built around these 'hotspots' to provide a more secure structure along the hillside of the area.
Azhari also urged the authorities to ensure proper maintenance of the drainage systems around the neighbourhood, in addition to upgrading the current system.
"We have lived here for over 30 years, and this (landslide) is the worst. We will feel safe as long as maintenance is carried out by the authorities; this wouldn't have happened," he said.
On Tuesday, continuous heavy rain in the morning triggered a landslide along Jalan E6 in Taman Melawati.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said Jalan E6 had been identified as one of 114 landslide-prone hotspots in Ampang Jaya.
He explained that a clogged drain at the top of a hill in Taman Melawati caused the landslide, as overflowing water from the drain triggered a landslip that led to the landslide.
He added that the overflow had been an ongoing issue for several days before the incident.