Council to fix at-risk Ampang hillslopes soon

Rodziah briefing participants who attended the town hall on hillslope management at Menara MPAJ in Pandan Indah.

AMPANG: Early warning sensors will be installed on four hillslopes, while stabilisation works will be carried out on four others by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).

The slopes which require immediate attention are located in Ukay Heights (two), Bukit Antarabangsa and Kampung Tasek Permai.

Meanwhile, the sensors will be placed on slopes in Taman Bukit Jaya, Jalan Wangsa 1, Taman Mega Jaya and Taman Seraya.

MPAJ president Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yatim said these slopes had been identified as being at risk of failure.

“We had requested an allocation to carry out these works and it has been approved. Works are expected to start in April and should take several months,” he revealed during a townhall with Ampang Jaya residents at Menara MPAJ, Pandan Indah, Selangor.

MPAJ Engineering Department director Zafrul Fazry Mohd Fauzi said that RM5.9mil would be allocated for slope stabilisation, while installation of sensors would cost RM4mil.

“Tree cutting and pruning on 61 slopes that have been categorised as very dangerous will also be done, costing RM7.3mil,” said Zafrul.

Out of 356 slopes within MPAJ’s jurisdiction, 61 have been identified as being in dangerous condition.

Of these, 118 hillslopes belong to the local council, while the rest are owned by other government agencies (37) or belong to private individuals, developers or joint management bodies and management corporations (201).

The townhall was chaired by Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail, who is also Selangor housing, urban well-being and entrepreneur development committee chairman.

She said a total of 36 respondents had submitted questions and suggestions prior to the session.

On suggestions that certain documents and reports on slope conditions be made public, Rodziah said this would be brought up at the state level for a definitive decision.

“I agree there needs to be transparency and relevant information should be made available to communities.”

During the session, residents brought up issues such as slope maintenance, development on hillslopes and flooding.