MELAKA: Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has announced that the report on the landslide tragedy in Batang Kali, Selangor last December has been completed. However, it has yet to be presented to the Cabinet as the state government’s feedback is still awaited. The incident involved a state road, hence the report and comments from relevant state agencies are necessary.
Nanta stated, “At the PWD (Public Works Department) level, our part has been completed. I hope the Selangor government will provide their comments as soon as possible so that the report can be brought to the Cabinet meeting.” He made these remarks during the launch of the 2023 Malaysia PWD Senior Officials Conference in Melaka on July 11.
In attendance at the conference were PWD director-general Datuk Ahmad Redza Ghulam Rasool and state PWD director Datuk Ismail Abd Rahman. Nanta had previously mentioned that the report on the landslide tragedy, which claimed the lives of 18 adults and 13 children while 61 people survived, was scheduled to be completed by the end of June and presented to the Cabinet for further action.
The three-day conference saw the participation of 420 PWD senior officials, including state and branch directors, state engineers, senior officers, and cadre officers. During the event, cooperation project documents were signed between PWD and the Malaysian Space Agency, PETRONAS, and Universiti Sains Malaysia to promote the use of technology in road construction and foster collaboration with industry players for technology exchange.
Nanta expressed his hopes for the agreement to reduce costs and extend the lifespan of roads. He also emphasized the potential for collaboration between PWD staff, local researchers, and industry players to spur intellectual development and technological advancement.
Overall, the completion of the report on the Batang Kali landslide tragedy marks an important step towards addressing the incident and preventing similar occurrences in the future. The feedback from the Selangor government will be crucial in determining the necessary actions to be taken. The Malaysia PWD Senior Officials Conference serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, highlighting the potential of technology in improving road construction and maintenance.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
