CYBERJAYA, May 16 — The Sepang Municipal Council has been instructed to expedite the slope restoration and landslide repairs at the hillside Cassia Garden Residence here, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said.
Aiman Athirah, who visited the landslide site today, said the 8m-deep landslide is active, and repair work in the area, including the installation of iron grilles, will start today to prevent further collapses.
“The council has to start work immediately as we noticed new collapses and cracks... the landslide is active, so action must be taken today,” she told reporters.
The deputy minister, who is also Sepang MP, however said there is no need for the residents in the housing area to be temporarily relocated.
It was reported that the approximately 1,000 residents of Cassia Garden Residence were concerned about the landslide near the main entrance of their residential area.
The luxury housing area comprises 220 residential units, each valued at RM1.2 million. It has been occupied for the past 13 years.
The landslide was detected almost a month ago and has since formed a crater about 8m to 10m deep, equivalent to the height of a three-storey building.
Based on inspections, the landslide has eroded to between 10m and 15m and caused the collapse of the stone fence between the slope and the housing area.
“The repair work by the council will begin with the installation of iron barriers (grilles) to prevent further soil erosion.
“God willing, we will give this matter our utmost attention... We have received a mandate from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim… Any situation involving landslides that endangers lives must be addressed immediately, and we are prioritising this,” she said.
Resident Mohd Anizan Mohd Ali, 42, said he was grateful for the assurance provided by the Deputy Minister and hopes the repair works will proceed smoothly.
“The landslide occurred on April 25, and we filed a report with the Sepang Municipal Council the following day. We also lodged reports with the police and the developer.
“At that time, our fence had not yet collapsed. It only collapsed a week later,” he said.
Another resident, Roesman Uthman, 62, said his house is located just across the road from the landslide and he has been unable to sleep almost every night since.
“The problem now is the rain. When there is a lot of water, it erodes the soil beneath the culvert, and we can’t do much about it,” he said.
— Bernama
