KUALA LUMPUR: Klang is not at risk of sinkholes forming as it is not on limestone foundations, says Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi
"Areas prone to sinkholes typically have limestone soil composition, which is not the case for Klang," he said during the Dewan Rakyat session on Oct 24.
He further explained that although land subsidence can occur due to natural causes or human activities, the soil in Klang consists of marine clay that necessitates specialized geotechnical design.
"The absence of limestone means the risk of sinkholes does not apply to Klang," he added.
The minister then said that incidents of land subsidence in the area are often the result of non-natural factors such as utility pipe leaks, drainage issues, or failures in localized embankment structures.
Alexander was responding to a query from Ganabatirau Veraman (Pakatan - Klang) regarding the ministry's strategies to prevent sinkholes in areas at higher risk, particularly in Klang.
He addressed the 2020 "sinkhole" event on Jalan Langat, identifying it not as a sinkhole but as a case of land subsidence.
"The use of the term 'sinkhole' is inaccurate for Klang, as the region is underpinned by marine clay, not limestone," he stated.
In response to the incident, stop-work orders were issued and construction equipment was modified to lessen the impact on the soil. Investigations determined that the subsidence was due to a failure in the soil structure.
Answering a follow-up question, Alexander said the ministry plans to incorporate current technology such as Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and LiDAR, along with artificial intelligence, to detect possible sinkhole formations.
Halimah Ali (Perikatan - Kapar) inquired if the ministry would provide funding for continuous monitoring technologies to identify potential sinkholes.
This conversation was prompted by an incident in August where a woman tragically got 'swallowed' by a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur.
