Sinkhole prevention: Works Ministry sets guidelines for utility installation on federal roads

KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has established guidelines for installing utilities along federal roads to prevent land subsidence incidents caused by leaking pipes, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said that the installation of utilities within federal road reserves must comply with the guidelines and technical requirements set by the Public Works Department.

"Periodic monitoring and maintenance are carried out by the concession company appointed by the ministry to ensure the road and the drainage system are in good condition. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) requires reporting any drainage system damage and taking appropriate repair actions.

"The ministry will also work with relevant utility companies to ensure that federal roads maintained by the department are safe and comfortable for road users,” he said during Minister’s Question Time today.

He said this in response to a question from V. Ganabatirau (PH-Klang) about the ministry’s plans to prevent sinkhole incidents in high-risk areas, especially in Klang, Selangor.

Nanta said that for new infrastructure development projects, it was the department’s practice to carry out comprehensive site investigations to assess the parameters and structure of soil layers, which served as key inputs for geotechnical and drainage design.

According to him, sinkhole incidents were more likely to occur in areas underlain by limestone, while land subsidence could result from several factors, including natural causes or human activities.

"However, there is no risk of sinkholes in the Klang area, as it is not underlain by limestone,” he said.

Nanta said that land subsidence incidents in Klang frequently resulted from non-natural factors such as utility pipe leaks, drainage problems, or failures in embankment structures.