KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — The government will conduct an integrity audit on the entire utility system at Jalan Masjid India here after the search for a victim of the sinkhole incident is complete.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the inspection will be done to ensure public safety and identify the cause of subsidence in the affected area.
He said the integrity audit will involve several agencies including the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Indah Water Konsortium, the Public Works Department, the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Minerals and Geoscience Department.
“We will examine all utilities and the entire underground system here by conducting a post-mortem to determine how to prevent similar incidents in the future… Sometimes new developments are carried out, so we want to find the cause of the land subsidence.
“We will investigate the cause and improve this (utility) system,” he said during a press conference after visiting the site of the sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India today.
Fadillah said Jalan Masjid India will be closed to vehicles until the search and rescue operation is complete.
Regarding offers from foreign countries to provide assistance for the search, now in its sixth day, Fadillah said there is no need at the moment as the national team has the necessary expertise, equipment, and technology.
He reminded the public not to speculate about the incident, including the appearance of a second sinkhole about 50m from the initial one.
“I hope everyone will refrain from making speculations, as many ‘Google experts’ tend to emerge. This will not help; let the involved parties conduct the investigation. So far, the area (Jalan Masjid India) is safe,” he said.
On August 23, an Indian national, Vijayaletchumy, 48, fell into an 8m-deep sinkhole while walking to a nearby temple.
— Bernama
