KUALA LUMPUR (ANN/THE STAR) – The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) has urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to establish a comprehensive underground mapping system for the city’s infrastructure and utilities, following a recent sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India.
IEM President Prof Dr Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin emphasised the urgent need for action, noting that the incident highlights significant gaps in the current system. “This incident is a wake-up call for DBKL to leverage technology and develop a detailed map of the city’s underground infrastructure. With the right resources and determination, such disasters can be prevented in the future,” Dr. Chiang told StarMetro. He also expressed IEM’s willingness to assist DBKL in this crucial task, should City Hall be open to collaboration.
IEM, which represents over 50,000 engineers, issued a statement following the incident, urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and offering its expertise to support the effort. The organisation called for more stringent safety checks by qualified professional engineers in the design, construction, and supervision of critical infrastructure to prevent similar occurrences.
In 2020, StarMetro reported that then-Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan had initiated an inter-agency study with utility companies to map out the extensive network of underground cables and pipes in the capital. This effort was prompted by the increasing number of sinkholes in the city. However, despite these efforts, significant challenges remain, particularly due to the aging infrastructure, some of which is over 50 years old.
In a recent interview, Nor Hisham reiterated the need for comprehensive underground mapping and stronger collaboration between agencies. He revealed that during his tenure, efforts to obtain accurate underground mapping were hampered by a lack of cooperation from utility companies. “One of the significant challenges we faced was getting utility companies on board with the mapping process. Many were reluctant to share their data, making it difficult to create a comprehensive and reliable map of the underground infrastructure,” he said.
Nor Hisham also expressed concerns that DBKL’s current data might be outdated and unreliable, potentially leading to unforeseen delays in construction projects and posing hazards for road users and contractors. He cited past projects, such as the Bulatan Dato Onn beautification and Jalan Bangsar flood mitigation efforts, which faced lengthy setbacks due to unexpected underground infrastructure.
The recent sinkhole incident on August 23 has heightened concerns among residents and businesses in the Jalan Masjid India area. The search and rescue operation for the missing Indian tourist is ongoing.
