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KUALA LUMPUR – The Batang Kali-Genting Highlands road will be reopened to motorcyclists in a week’s time, said Works Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi.
He added that the Public Works Department has identified 19 collapsing slopes and five sinking roads across the country.
He said the ministry is monitoring the area struck by the deadly landslide to ensure public safety.
“We expect the route to be reopened to motorcycle users within a week’s time. Give us a chance to conduct a thorough inspection and monitor the area, because soil movements are still occuring.
“The detectors we have put in place still record soil movements of between 2mm and 4mm, which take time to monitor,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Nanta said all parties need to give the Public Works Department experts space to conduct the necessary work in the area of the landslide incident to ensure the safety of road users.
“We don’t want to rush, despite calls from several parties for the road in the Batang Kali landslide area to be reopened immediately,” he said, adding that the route would also be reopened to other vehicles in stages.
Three days ago, Works secretary-general Datuk Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman said the Batang Kali road would be closed to the public for a year to facilitate hillslope repairs and roadworks following the deadly landslide last Friday.
“Although the road is okay, we will not allow public use until a new slope is made, which will take about a year,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
He said a total of 1,045 slopes along federal roads in the peninsula are at high risk of collapsing.
In the 2.42am incident last Friday, the landslide measuring almost 300m long and 70m high came crashing onto the Father’s Organic Farm campsite located below the mountainous road linking the twins of Batang Kali and Gohtong Jaya.
A total of 30 victims have been confirmed dead so far, while 61 are known to have survived.
Search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing to locate one missing person.
Traders and hoteliers in Batang Kali and Genting Highlands have raised their concerns and anxiety over the road shutdown as it hinders their daily commute, in addition to issues from possible business closure to the reduction of tourists. – The Vibes, December 23, 2022