It’s unsexy government work, but city maintenance is vital

An aerial view of the widened sinkhole in the Masjid India area as Fire and Rescue personnel searched for the victim. The search was called off on Sept 1, no body was found. — SHAARI CHEMAT/ THESTAR

The tragic case of a tourist disappearing into a sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur’s Masjid India area on Aug 23, 2024, has shown that Malaysia needs to pay just as much attention to what is going on below ground as above ground in our cities.

In a city of constant construction and rapidly changing skylines, and one sited in a valley at that, we need to consider the impact of infrastructure below ground, particularly in terms of drainage and stability.