By Zaki Salleh
Photo Social media
IPOH: Several locations at risk of sinkholes have been identified around Ipoh, and monitoring is being carried out involving various parties.
In this context, the Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG) is the expert agency handling sinkhole incidents.
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin stated that extensive monitoring is necessary to prevent any disasters.
He explained that this effort aims to prevent sinkholes like those that occurred on Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, from happening in Ipoh.
“MBI, as the local authority, will refer to expert agencies such as JMG that have the expertise to manage sinkholes,” he said in a statement.
Rumaizi further explained that MBI is currently collaborating with the state government’s subsidiary, Koridor Utiliti Darul Ridzuan (KUDR), to map underground utilities.
Recent concerns have been raised by residents, especially those in Ipoh, following sinkhole incidents in the Klang Valley.
Ipoh, with a similar geographical profile to Kuala Lumpur, also faces the same risks, although development in Ipoh is smaller compared to the capital.
During the December state assembly session, it was reported that JMG Perak has identified 86 subsidence disaster locations across the Kinta Valley to date.
These disaster locations have been recorded since 1971, with subsidence effects ranging from 10 to 200 meters.
According to JMG data on sinkholes and subsidence, areas such as Manjoi, Lahat, and Kampar are monitored for subsidence issues.
Studies show that these areas are underlain by Kinta limestone and are former mining sites that have been repurposed for development.
