Following the Masjid India sinkhole which saw Indian national G. Vijaya Lakshmi plunge straight into it, many Malaysians have been walking on eggshells ever since over fears that they might become the next victim.
However, a minister has come forward to allay public anxiety about the overall structural stability of KL, saying that fears about the capital city being unsafe due to one incident was misplaced.
‘Masjid India sinkhole was an isolated incident’
Speaking to reporters at a state-level Housing and Local Government Ministry programme at Residensi Pelangi Indah, Johor yesterday (Sept 5), Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said what happened at Masjid India was “an isolated incident” and cannot be seen as an indicator that KL is unsafe for the public.
He added that major cities across Malaysia undergo regular assessment to prevent structural or environmental hazards from occurring.
“Besides Kuala Lumpur, other states such as Perak and Johor, have their respective underground utility mapping and land structure studies that is constantly being carried out in phases.
Such measures are important to ensure that the major cities in the country are safe. Thus, it’s unfair to say that KL in dangerous just because of an isolated incident,” he said as reported by Malay Mail.
Summary and aftermath of sinkhole event
On Aug 23, Vijaya was seen on CCTV footage falling 8m down a sinkhole at Masjid India, much to the horror of onlookers.
The authorities did all they could to locate her but eventually called off the search as they were unable to do so after nine days.
Following the incident, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) will be carrying out an underground utility mapping and soil structural integrity study of KL.
She also said the council will make sure that all construction projects in the city are to be accompanied to with a geotechnical report.
Just four days after the Masjid India incident, a massive sinkhole appeared in Kampung Kerinchi due to a collapsed drain:
