Kuala Lumpur sinkhole: Mayor rejects claims that city is unsafe for habitation

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif has rejected claims that the city is unsafe for habitation, as search and rescue efforts for a woman who fell into a sinkhole in Jalan Masjid India entered their fourth day.

On Aug 23, 48-year-old Indian national Vijayalaksmi, who was visiting Malaysia, was walking in the area when

a section of the pavement suddenly caved in and took her with it.

There has been no trace of the woman so far, except for a pair of slippers believed to belong to her.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall said in a statement on Aug 26 that the Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) will use a jetter machine to break up debris in a manhole located about 70m downstream from where the incident occurred.

It added that the Fire and Rescue Department is also searching for Ms Vijayalaksmi at the IWK Pantai Dalam plant.

“IWK has already implemented flushing at Manhole 5 from late last night until 2am today, but has yet to find any clues.

“To ensure seamless search efforts, the public is advised not to gather near the scene,” the statement said.

At a press conference in the evening on Aug 26, Dang Wangi police chief Sulizme Affendy Sulaiman said rescuers will continue with the search until the victim is found.

He said the rescue team is inserting camera technology devices into underground pipes to help with the search.

A task force has also been set up to examine the soil structure in the vicinity, he added.

Earlier on Aug 26, rescuers were seen climbing down a manhole about 50m from the sinkhole, Malaysian news outlet New Straits Times reported.

Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, as well as the Civil Defence Force, were seen opening the manhole at about 9.30am. Some carried ropes and other equipment as they climbed into the manhole.

Singapore waste management company Jetters Incz has offered to help in the search and rescue efforts for free, according to Malaysian news outlet Malay Mail.

The firm said it decided to offer its services after learning that one of the methods being used to find the victim is flushing.

It said in a statement: “As specialists in this field, we would like to offer our voluntary assistance to support the ongoing investigation and search efforts.

“Our team is equipped with advanced technology and possesses the necessary skills to effectively manage and navigate complex drainage systems, which we believe could be instrumental in the current situation.”

Meanwhile, a Facebook post by an environmental activist in 2015 claiming that Kuala Lumpur had the potential for a “giant sinkhole” to appear at any time has recently resurfaced.

The post said that Kuala Lumpur was the most unsafe place in Malaysia, claiming that 40 per cent to 60 per cent of the city’s foundation is made of limestone.

It also said that unregulated development and disorganised drainage systems could increase the likelihood of such sinkholes.

But Dr Maimunah stressed that Kuala Lumpur has been developed for a long time, and that there is no solid evidence that points to it being unsafe for development, reported Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama.

Any such claims, she added, must be backed by strong evidence and thorough studies.

“In response, we have established a task force, including the Department of Geology and the Public Works Department, to look into and study this matter.”