Cameron Highland: New federal agency on hillslopes

New federal agency on hillslopes needed to avoid landslides

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 -- In the wake of Sunday's deadly landslide in Cameron Highlands, the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) said there is a need to set up a new federal agency which advises local authorities on all technical matters related to hillslopes. It said the new agency should be tasked with the approval, control and monitoring of the safety of all future hill-site development. "The agency should also ensure that the guidelines for hillslope infrastructure are followed strictly so that public safety is not compromised," it said in a statement today. The landslide at the Orang Asli settlement in Kampung Sungai Ruil in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, killed seven people. IEM said long-term measures, such as constant monitoring of unstable areas and regular maintenance of the land structure, both natural and built, needed to be carried out consistently. IEM urged all approving and enforcement agencies to adopt an adapted version of the slope classification system used in Hong Kong to ensure consistency and ease of communication. In addition, it called on the government to adopt and implement the recommendations made in the IEM position paper on hill-site development, which was submitted to the relevant authorities in 2000, 2004 and 2009. "IEM is willing to work together with local authorities and all the relevant government agencies in providing technical assistance towards a safe and environmental-friendly development," it said. IEM believes that landslides could be avoided or at least mitigated if all necessary precautions were taken. -- BERNAMA

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