Land owner to stabilise slope next to church

13/9, The Star, Metro http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/9/13/central/9483552&sec=central

By OH ING YEEN
ingyeen@thestar.com.my

TAMAN MUDUN, Batu 9 Cheras residents heaved a sigh of relief when the owner of a piece of land with a landslide-prone slope agreed to carry out measures to stabilise it.

The slope is situated adjacent to the Mudun Chinese Methodist Church where about 400 parishioners, including children and adults, gather for service and meetings every Sunday.

In June, Rev Kok Chin Ming, was alerted by residents about a landslide. When he arrived at the scene, he saw fallen trees and large rocks that had rolled down the slope after continuous rain.

According to Albert Lim, a resident who has been living opposite the 500m-long slope along Jalan Semalu for 28 years, there have been minor landslips for the past 10 years but the occurrence have increased since 2008.
Temporary solution: The slope next to the church where around 400 children and adults gather for service and church meetings every Sunday.

“I’ve complained to the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj); when they came, they only cut the trees and there was no further action. The most serious incident happened in June, and a tarpaulin was placed over it to prevent it from getting worse.

“If a landslide were to happen when there are church activities going on, it would certainly endanger many lives. Who would bear the responsibility?” he said.

Goodland Realty Sdn Bhd, which owns the land, said they would take measures to ensure that the slope would be safe from erosion.

Its director Eee Soon Kee said: “We would survey the lots and conduct soil tests; our consultants will come up with a plan to take stock of the situation.

“We would then engage a contractor to do the necessary earthworks like slope cutting and providing proper drainage,” he said, adding that for now, there are no plans to develop the land.

MPKj councillor Eddie Ng commended the land owner for taking responsibility.

“The cost to strengthen the slope would be around RM950,000,” he said.

He urged the Housing and Local Government Minister to study the Local Government Act.

“Under the Local Government Act 1976 Act 171, when a threat against safety is found, the council has the power to instruct the property or land owner to overcome the threat; failing which, the owner can be charged in court with a maximum fine of RM500 or six months imprisonment or both.

“RM500 may have been a large amount in the 70s but now, it is nothing. I hope this clause could be amended,” he said.

He said the residents had sent registered letters to eight departments and government agencies such as the Prime Minister’s Department, MPKj and Public Works Department but only MPKj and the state government had replied.