The Star, Wednesday December 5, 2012
Cracking up with fear over unstable slope
By THO XIN YI
Photo by LOW BOON TAT
IT has been four years since the residents of Jalan Saujana Damai 1 at Taman Saujana Damai in Kajang noticed cracks in the drain located on top of a slope in front of their houses.
Despite complaints, they said the problem was not taken seriously by the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj). The residents are worried that a lanslip would occur if the situation was not rectified.
Besides the cracks, they added that the bent railing was also another tell-tale sign of earth movement.
A few months ago, the residents started barricading the area with chairs and barrier tape to warn people of the danger.
Rosmahyuddin Baharuddin, 38, said they lodged the first complaint with MPKj in March 2009.
MPKj then instructed the developer to rectify the situation, and the developer obliged by patching up the cracks with cement.
Sixteen of them, whose houses are near the affected slope, sent another letter in January to MPKj to highlight their plight.
The letter was also forwarded to the Slope Engineering Branch of the Public Works Department, Hulu Langat MP Dr Che Rosli Che Mat and Kajang assemblyman Lee Kim Sin.
However, they have not heard from any of them.
Another resident, Rasdan Ibrahim, 35, said the concave slope appeared to have a gradient of about 60 degrees.
“The slope was not strengthened since this housing area was developed,” he said.
Rasdan, who lives directly opposite the affected area, said the residents’ safety was threatened.
They are also worried a nearby development would aggravate the situation by causing more soil movement.
Rosmahyuddin wants the problem rectified before it is too late.
“So far there has been no casualty but we should not wait until a trajedy occurs,” he said.
On another matter, resident Farid Arif, 38, said the MPKj should also consider putting up directional signages in the area.
“There are seven different housing estates but there are no signages,” he said.
When contacted, Lee said he has forwarded the residents’ letter to the MPKj for further action.
“I will also follow up with MPKj as well as councillor Muhmad Hamidi Mohd Nazir on the matter,” he said.
MPKj could not be reached for comments.
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