PUTRAJAYA, Nov 3 — The Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG) has identified 31 hotspots at risk of landslides nationwide during the northeast monsoon season.
Its director-general, Datuk Zamri Ramli, said among the areas at risk are around the Klang Valley, Tanjung Bungah and Paya Terubong in Penang, Ipoh and Cameron Highlands in Perak, Kundasang in Sabah, and Bau in Sarawak.
As part of preparations to tackle any landslides during the northeast monsoon season, which is expected to start this month, JMG has implemented the monitoring of 254 critical slopes nationwide.
“A total of 104 slopes have been classified as high-level critical slopes, 97 as average critical slopes, and 53 as low-level critical slopes,” he said in a statement today.
Based on monitoring, Zamri said mitigation action had been taken on 37 slopes, while similar action is being taken on 15 other slopes, and 202 slopes are being monitored to determine the next course of action.
JMG has also mapped seven eco-forest park locations which could potentially result in geological disasters from debris flows.
The eco-forest parks are Lata Iskandar in Perak, Sungai Tua (Selangor), Jeram Toi (Negeri Sembilan), Chamang (Pahang), as well as Lata Payung, Chemerong, and Air Menderu in Terengganu.
It advised those in high-risk areas, like places where landslides occurred, to be wary of the surrounding conditions, including any collapse or small movement of slopes, cracks, or fissures on walls, columns, or pillars of houses, as well as any signs of humps, cracks, or deposits on the road and trees that continue to lean.
Should any of these signs be present, the public is advised to contact and relay information to the JMG or the relevant authorities for assistance.
Members of the public can also seek more information and lodge complaints with JMG via at https://mygems.jmg.gov.
— Bernama
