Heavy rains not the only trigger

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 26, 2026

Malaysia’s Works Ministry has identified underground hazards such as water leaks from buried utilities, alongside heavy rainfall, as key factors contributing to slope failures and landslides. This recognition has led to enhanced monitoring efforts, including advanced equipment and public alert systems, to better detect and respond to multiple warning signs of slope instability nationwide.

Malaysia’s Works Ministry has highlighted that while heavy rainfall is a well-known factor in slope failures, it is not the sole cause of such incidents. Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi emphasized that underground hazards, including water leakage from buried utilities and human activities, also play significant roles in triggering landslides.

Speaking from Petaling Jaya, Nanta pointed out that the Public Works Department’s (JKR) National Slope Master Plan recognizes several interrelated factors contributing to slope instability. These include rising groundwater levels, erosion, poor drainage, underground water service leaks, and changes to surrounding ground conditions resulting from construction or other adverse human interventions.

The ministry’s recent focus follows a landslip incident in Cheras, where residents were evacuated after a slope near their flats shifted due to an underground pipe leak. Such events highlight the risks posed by hidden sources of water beneath the surface, which may not be immediately apparent but can undermine slope stability over time.

JKR monitors a total of 34,544 slopes nationwide, with 27,216 located in Peninsular Malaysia, 4,178 in Sabah, 2,969 in Sarawak, and 181 in the Federal Territory of Labuan. The department’s slope maintenance guidelines call for urgent engineering responses to signs such as abnormal leakage, widening cracks, ground settlement, and deformation of retaining structures.

Minister Nanta urged the public to remain vigilant for multiple warning signs, especially during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall. These signs include simultaneous occurrences of surface cracks, structural bulging, unusual water seepage, soil or rock falls, leaning trees or infrastructure, and unexpected erosion near slopes. Immediate reporting of these observations to the authorities is essential for timely intervention.

JKR Director-General Datuk Ibrahim Esa elaborated on specific indicators the public should watch for during or after heavy rains. These include rapidly expanding cracks on roads or pavements, tilted or bulging retaining walls, localized ground sinking, muddy water discharge from slopes, overflowing or blocked drains, and abnormal sounds suggesting ground movement.

To strengthen slope surveillance, the ministry operates 73 rain gauge stations across Malaysia, distributed among Peninsular Malaysia (41), Sabah (19), Sarawak (11), and Labuan (2). Additionally, advanced monitoring equipment, including three Robotic Total Stations and a Global Navigation Satellite System, have been installed along Sections 44 and 46 of the Simpang Pulai-Gua Musang Road, a region known for its susceptibility to slope movement.

The ministry maintains year-round slope management efforts but intensifies monitoring and emergency patrols when weather warnings indicate the potential for severe rainfall. Authorities focus on critical and high-risk slopes by inspecting drainage infrastructure, observing groundwater seepage, and checking for any signs of ground instability to minimize the risk of landslides.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.