Moving in quick: The Kajang Municipal Council has mobilised three open tippers and 50 workers to clear the rubble at the site.
THE erosion at the Ampang Look Out Point (ALOP) along Jalan Ampang-Hulu Langat which began early this week has snowballed into a landslide on Thursday evening.
It was observed that on Wednesday, cars on both lanes could still pass through but one lane was cordoned off on Thursday.
The road is temporarily closed as at press time as police have cordoned off the area beginning at Batu 14 Hulu Langat.
When contacted, Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Amiruddin Jamaluddin said they were alerted by the public at 6pm on Thursday.
“The patrol car arrived half an hour later at the site and informed the relevant authorities.
“The PWD arrived on site on Thursday night but no results were derived as it was dark. They resumed analysing works the following morning.
“We have four policemen from the mobile police station and 12 Rela members stationed at the site,” he said, adding that the road would be closed till further notice.
The aftermath: : PWD officers surveying the site.
Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) corporate communications head Shari-man Mohd Nor said he was notified by the Ampang police at 12.30am yesterday about the road being covered with soil.
“The PWD slope unit conducted an investigation and we were then given the green light to clear the site as there were no soil movements. We have mobilised three open tippers and 50 workers and cleaning works will continue till 6pm.
“From the preliminary report, it is believed that the landslide occurred because of water seeping through the sewerage system,” he said.
State executive councillor Ronnie Liu urged the Public Works Institute (Ikram) to send in the report on the slope conditions at the Ampang Look Out Point.
“The report is long overdue. Ikram should speed up or we will look for another consultant. This place has been vacant for a year,” he said.
He visited the site on Thursday and yesterday.
“The illegal extensions pose a risk. If the report reveals that this place is dangerous, we should tear it down. However, if it can still be salvaged, it can be turned into a tourist centre. One of the ways is to privatise the Look Out Point.”
On Nov 15, StarMetro in its report titled “Dangerous movement” highlighted that the Public Works Department (PWD) were notified about the erosion on Tuesday.
On Nov 17, 2010, six restaurants in the area, one outdoor team-building facility and a car park were ordered to close by MPKj.
It was observed that the restaurants were in a disarray. Chairs were overturned, glass shards and things from the restaurants were scattered around, and fungus are found growing on the floor and wooden chairs.
There were also cracks on the ground near the balcony.
While no casualties were reported, people living near ALOP have voiced concerns over the landslide.
Hasnah Mamat, 48, who lives in Taman Pinggiran Delima and operates an eatery there, is worried that the downpour will worsen the situation.
“When my husband went to Ampang via the road yesterday around 5pm, he could see a tree trunk about to fall.
“Half an hour later on his way back, the situation worsened and all was left was a narrow lane for his car to pass through.
“This is the first time I know of a landslide in the area; the last major landslide was the one at Batu 14 last year that claimed the lives of children at an orphange,” she said.
Taman Wawasan resident Farah Syahirah, 21, saw the erosion since Monday.
“I use that road to get to work daily, now I would have to take a 10km detour. Thankfully I’m on holiday today. It is a good thing that the Look Out Point is no longer in operation or people could have got hurt,” she said.
Taman Pinggiran Delima and Taman Wawasan are about three to five kilometres away from ALOP.
While Kampung Baru Batu 14 Hulu Langat is 8km away from the site, its village head Soong Heng Hin, 54, said they were still affected due to the congestion caused by the road closure.
“Thankfully it is the school holidays or the congestion will be worse,” he said.
The landslide has not only affected road users but business operators too.
Joey Chin, who works at an eatery in Batu 14, said, “Normally it would be packed during lunch time, but due to the road closure, there are only a handful of customers.
“I hope they can finish clearing the soil soon or provide us an alternative road.”
She had to take a detour due to the road closure.
“It is a longer route and I had to pay toll as well. My customers told me that they were late for work,” she said.
The landslide at ALOP reminded residents of the Hulu Langat landslide that claimed the lives of 16 people on May 21 last year.
As of now, the Madrasah Al-Taqwa Orphanage in 14th Mile, Hulu Langat is an abandoned building.
Strips of tarpaulin are found hanging on the slope.
A resident living across the site who only wanted to be identified as Din has not seen any slope strengthening works at the building in recent months.
He is also worried about the works to install a U-drain at the stream in front of his house.
“The erosion along the banks is worsening, I’m afraid it might affect our houses. We have planted some vegetables along the banks in the hope of strengthening it,” he said.
Flashback: The danger of the slope was highlighted on Saturday in StarMetro.
