SHAH ALAM, April 19 — The Federal Park Administrative Zone project in Bukit Kiara has been halted due to a mudflood and the partial collapse of a retaining wall near Jalan Abang Haji Openg caused by heavy rain yesterday, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh.
She added that immediate action was taken after the incident.
The project, overseen by the National Landscape Department of the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKKT), is currently undergoing cleanup.
“A stop-work order has been issued with immediate effect, and a compound has been imposed on the contractor,” she said, according to The Star, adding that she visited the scene with Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud.
She highlighted that the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), are working on cleanup, while construction hoardings were removed and a silt trap restored to manage runoff.
“DBKL has built a control centre to coordinate on-site activities, and JBPM is ready to assist with emergency relief,” she said.
Yeoh said a meeting would be called to reassess mitigation plans, and that slope development projects in the Bukit Kiara Federal Park area would be reviewed.
“Such works will no longer be allowed to proceed in a broad and uncontrolled manner, but must instead be carried out in carefully managed phases,” she said, directing the relevant agencies to take immediate action to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the mudflood was caused by heavy rain between 3.30pm and 5.30pm, causing water to overflow from the project site.
“Initial investigations indicate that the large quantity of water from the slope area led an earth bund to break, resulting in water flowing into the silt trap,” he explained.
He said the downstream public drainage system was unable to handle the flow, while utility blockages caused water to overflow into public roads and put pressure on a retaining wall, which partially caved along with the construction hoarding.
Nanta said the Public Works Department (JKR) has been asked to conduct a thorough technical investigation to determine the main cause, examine structural integrity, and recommend additional mitigation measures.
“Any flaws in implementation, supervision, technical compliance, or site administration must be discovered and corrected immediately. (The Works Ministry) will not compromise on matters of public safety,” he said.
He also said urgent steps include clearing works, the removal of hoarding along Jalan Abang Haji Openg, the installation of about 200m of concrete barriers with geotextile, and the desilting and repair of the site’s erosion and sediment control system.
“These measures are important to stabilise the current situation and reduce subsequent risks,” Nanta said, adding that the ministry will continue to monitor developments.
