JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 5 — The recent sinkhole incident along Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, is an isolated occurrence and should not suggest that the country, especially the Federal capital, is unsafe, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
He said building structures in the country are constructed to high safety standards and underground utility mapping is regularly conducted in phases according to the state’s utility corridors.
“Many states, like Johor and Perak, have their own utility corridor and (utility) mapping is carried out regularly in phases.
“Therefore, Malaysia, and Kuala Lumpur in particular, are safe. It is not right to say that our country is unsafe to live in just because of an isolated incident,” Nga said during a press conference after officiating the Housing and Local Government’s (KPKT) Sentuhan Kasih Programme at Residensi Pelangi Indah today.
He was responding to queries about the implementation of underground utility mapping following the sinkhole incident.
Nga added that planning permission from experts is also required for multi-storey or strata-building projects.
“Actually, any multi-storey or strata building must secure a geoscience and technical report before obtaining planning permission.
“This is one of the requirements for strata property development. Development orders will be issued only after experts verify that the site is safe,” he said.
KPKT had previously recommended that local authorities, relevant agencies, and utility companies collaborate to implement underground utility mapping.
According to Nga, his ministry was always open to cooperation with Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the Public Works Department, and various agencies to establish underground utility or facility mapping.
On Saturday (August 31) Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa that the search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate G Vijaya Lakshmi, 48, the Indian tourist who fell into an eight-metre-deep sinkhole along Jalan Masjid India on August 23, had been called off after nine days.
— Bernama
