KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 28): Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa on Wednesday confirmed that the government has temporarily halted new construction approvals in Kuala Lumpur following recent sinkhole incidents in the capital city.

“We hold off [on the new project approvals] for now until we establish a task force,” Zaliha told reporters on Wednesday when visiting the second sinkhole site that appeared in Kampung Kerinchi a day earlier.

The task force will look into the standard operating procedures to be observed for development projects in Kuala Lumpur.

The palm oil industry has come a long way from the introduction of the plant to the country as an ornamental crop to a complex global powerhouse, contributing significantly to Malaysia’s gross domestic product and the creation of job opportunities. While this pursuit of economic prosperity remains essential, a growing awareness of the industry’s far-reaching social and environmental implications has ignited a shift towards sustainable and responsible practices. Today, the palm oil sector operates within a complex and dynamic environment shaped by converging pressures. Escalating consumer expectations for ethical and sustainable products, coupled with increasingly stringent government regulations and rapid technological advancements, have transformed the industry landscape. With 5.65 million hectares across the country dedicated to the cultivation of the crop, the sector’s impact on local communities, small-scale farmers, indigenous groups and workers is profound and far-reaching.

On Monday, Zaliha was quoted as saying that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had been directed to collaborate closely with geologists and infrastructure experts to evaluate and mitigate the risk of future sinkholes.

"The Federal Territories Department and DBKL will also strengthen the standard operating procedures for development by ensuring geotechnical studies done by certified engineers are submitted at an earlier stage, specifically during the planning approval application process," Zaliha said in a statement.

On Tuesday, The Edge reported that planning permission applications for the construction of buildings in Kuala Lumpur will no longer be considered without a geotechnical study prepared by certified engineers, under a new directive issued by DBKL.

The directive was issued by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, according to a letter issued by DBKL's executive director for planning Datuk Zulkurnain Hassan on Monday that was sighted by The Edge. The letter was addressed to the directors of DBKL's City Planning Department, Building Control Department and Infrastructure Planning Department, as well as to the secretariat head of the local authority's one-stop committee.

“You are requested to take action to defer the issuance of development orders, building plan approvals, building construction permits, and earthworks approvals until the approval of the geotechnical study report prepared by a certified engineer,” the letter read.

When asked about this DBKL directive, Zaliha said she could not confirm the matter. “I have not received the letter [from DBKL],” she said.

The Edge had previously reached out to a DBKL spokesperson, who declined to elaborate on the letter.

Nonetheless, Zaliha said the government is indeed considering having geotechnical studies as part of the SOPs for all developments in Kuala Lumpur.

“Geotechnical studies have been required for areas with slopes. Insya-Allah [God willing], in the future, we will also look into flat [land] areas,” she added.

Kuala Lumpur has so far reported the occurence of three sinkholes over the last six days. 

The first incident occurred in Jalan Masjid India last Friday, which saw a 48-year-old tourist from India, Vijayaletchumy, falling into an eight-metre-deep sinkhole and disappearing. The search and rescue operation for her is still ongoing.

Subsequently, a collapsed drain left a large hole in the ground at Jalan Pantai Permai in Kampung Kerinchi on Tuesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, another sinkhole was spotted on Jalan Masjid India - about 50 metres from where the first sinkhole appeared. 

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/724661