Landslide in Ulu Kelang: Aftermath
At first, we were largely reluctant to write anything about the recent landslide in Kampung Pasir, Ulu Kelang last week. There were no shortage to commentaries in blogs, newspapers and online forums, some very well written, but mostly screaming for blood.
This isn’t the first time it happened in the area. And it most likely wont be the last. On the day after t happened, there was a graphic in a leading newspaper that spoke volumes – it showed the locations of 5 of the most recent biggest landslide occurrences in the area, along with the dates it happened. All 5 locations where within about 2km along the same stretch of Middle Ring Road II:
Dec 11, 1993 – Highland Towers
May 15, 1999 – Athanaeum Tower
Oct 5, 2000 – Bukit Antarabangsa
Nov 20, 2002 – Taman Hillview
May 31, 2006 – Kampung Pasir
Looking at the facts, a few things can be observed. The incidents happened mainly during the monsoon seasons (using at the end of the year) or following the equinox, which typically brings the heaviest rainfall in the West Coast.
Secondly, from a geological viewpoint, the hillslopes are mainly in the same area and also the pretty much from the same formation. the latest landslide, just like the infamous Highland Towers, is due to disturbances to the natural slopes due to development. The natural terrain of the area is very hilly, making it tricky (and costly) to develop properly.
At the moment, there are 3 governing bodies that are involved in studying and approving these projects – the local council, JKR Unit Cerun, and Ikram, which acts as an external consultant. In the case of the Highland Towers, the local council was ruled by the court as absolved of any responsibilities in the tragedy.
It’s been 13 years since the landmark Highland Towers catastrophe. And looking at the list of events above, it would seem that the lessons were not fully learnt. Will it happen again? We can’t say. Most people on the streets are pretty sure it will, judging from the trend.
As KL is getting more and more odeveloped, there is no more sizable land for mid-scale development that is tenable. What is left are the hillslopes, peaty soil, and unfavourable locations like near dumpsites or power lines. Yet people need more and more housing, developers and contractors need to do business. And the local governent is responsible to study and approve each project proposal.
So at the end of the day, who ultimately holds the blame? In the case of the Kampung Pasir landslide, it would seem that investigations are underway. And what happens after this? A witch hunt will follow nonetheless, projects are scrutinized, and a lot of reports and studies are thrown about. But crunch time comes 1 year from now, when the fickle public have relatively forgotten this incident, and when new and ambitious projects are once again submitted. That’s when the cycle starts all over again…
Developing a hill slope is not an easy task and very expensive. No retaining wall, no matter how strong, can hold back a land slide, if the soil is loose. We are talking about at least few hundred thousand tonnes of presure pressing against the retaining wall. But if the earth is solid, the pressure is much less. That is what I believe happened with the retaining wall.
To me, the Local Council must bear the most blame. Don’t approve with conditions, unless you’re going to monitor the compliance of the conditions.
Its not that there isn’t enough flat land to develop, some ppl still find it glamarous to live near / along a hill slope. Just my personal opinion.
Comment by preacher — June 7, 2006 @ 4:47 pm
some problem with this hilly or slope area are not being conveyed to the buyer unless the buyer asked the developer. It does not mentioned anywhere in the S&P & this kind of mishap is not covered. I strongly agreed with the new goverment move where build first then sell, so when can see first before we end up feeling cheated at the end of the day. But it also come to late already, thousand already bought houses which end of having the same problem when the area surrounding it later are being developed.
Comment by i_seek_blessing — July 10, 2006 @ 5:18 pm