FOCUS

LANDSLIDES HIT KUALA LIPIS DISTRICT

Friday, 3 June 2022
By Megat Irham

KUALA LIPIS - Kuala Lipis is one of the main roads used by the villagers and is located in the heart of Pahang.

Oil palm and rubber plantations cover half of the area, making it vulnerable to natural disasters like landslides and floods.

Unfortunately, floods strike Kuala Lipis almost every year, particularly during the monsoon season.

Earlier this year, mud floods affected the district more severely, destroying housing areas and crops, causing the death of residents there.

The floods have resulted in many environmental damage in the district, such as persistent landslides that make it difficult for locals to move around because fallen trees block the road.

Landslides in Kuala Lipis are disturbing traffic around that area.

(Source: Berita DIMENSi/Megat Irham)

Nazmi Zaki, 26, a public technician who works at Lipis District Council, shared information about the situation in Kuala Lipis and the landslide that occurred there.

He explained that when a landslide occurs on a highway leading to Kuala Lipis or other nearby districts, it causes traffic jams due to the narrow road.

It will also affect the road users while road repairs work is underway and could harm the locals.

“The landslide normally happens because of human activities and some natural factors,” said Nazmi during an interview with Berita DIMENSi through WhatsApp.

Human activities can be related to development projects in Kuala Lipis, and mass logging causing land erosion is bound to happen when a major flood occurs.

Road repairing work at Kuala Lipis Vocational College.

(Source: Berita DIMENSi/Megat Irham)

Locals who work during office hours are severely affected by this accident as their credit working hours will be disrupted and they will be charged for the late attendance fees.

Wan Hasniah, 49, one of the Bank Simpanan Nasional Kuala Lipis branch workers, expressed her thoughts and experiences about being stuck in a traffic jam for almost two hours.

“I had to face a risky road situation every day because the road was narrow and unstable, so I had to take other alternative routes that were far to get to the office so that it would take time to arrive at work.

“Sometimes I have no other choice, so I have to deal with traffic jams in the early morning since only one lane is open for all transport,” said Wan Hasniah during an interview with Berita DIMENSi via WhatsApp.

Upon complaints and monitoring, the Kuala Lipis District Council will immediately conduct maintenance and slope inspection with a better quality developer.

This effort aims to make it easier for residents to move in and out of the district and prevent natural disasters in the district. Hence, to reduce the expense of replacing public property damaged due to the disaster.

Like the article? Share it now!