KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,577 slopes along Federal Roads nationwide have been identified as high risk, according to the Works Ministry (KKR).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this figure is part of the 34,714 slopes monitored through the Slope Hazard and Risk Map developed by the Public Works Department (JKR). The map includes 26,722 slopes in Peninsular Malaysia, 4,178 in Sabah, 3,633 in Sarawak, and 181 in Labuan.
In a statement to Bernama, KKR mentioned that in the event of slope-related disasters, the ministry, through JKR, provides technical advice to the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). They are responsible for supplying machinery, offering technical services, assessing damage to public infrastructure, and implementing mitigation measures to reduce slope disaster risks.
The ministry detailed that if a disaster involves water crossings or landslides, JKR will take several actions. These include road closures, issuing warnings, providing alternative routes, constructing diversions, and r
epairing affected roads. Additionally, JKR, through its Slope Engineering Branch, issues early warnings based on rainfall and slope movement data from the Early Warning System in high-risk areas.
KKR also noted that there are 49 rain gauge stations nationwide, with 37 in the peninsula, nine in Sabah, and three in Sarawak. These stations will record rain data and issue early warnings when readings reach threshold levels at high-risk locations. Furthermore, three Robotic Total Stations (RTS) and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) have been installed at Sections 44 and 46 of FT185 Jalan Simpang Pulai-Lojing-Gua Musang to monitor slope surface movement.
As of September 2024, RM104.84 million has been expended on slope repair works at 147 locations along Federal Roads in Peninsular Malaysia. For 2025, the ministry is set to receive a RM118 million allocation to support corrective slope repair and preventive maintenance.
Routine maintenance is ongoing for very high- and high-risk slopes on the East Coas
t, including Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and parts of Perak. The installation and maintenance of the Landslide Early Warning System and upgrades to the Integrated Slope Management System are also underway.
For future planning, the ministry stated that JKR has taken steps to address risky slopes and potential ones through methods such as localized real-time monitoring. This will enable early detection of changes in slope stability, allowing response to signs of slope failure. The deployment of technology such as tilt sensors, soil moisture instruments, inclinometers, and piezometers at high-risk locations will allow accurate data collection and precise preventive measures to reduce landslide incidents.