‘Hold continuous public awareness programme on flood, landslides’
MIRI: Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said there should be continuous efforts to make the public aware of the dangers of flooding and landslide especially among children.
He also stressed that there is a need to know and recognise the signs of landslides as well as steps to be taken to reduce landslide incidences.
“It is vital for the public to be aware of this matter and I hope the local community leaders and relevant agencies will work together to continue doing this awareness programme and spread the message about the danger of landslide to schools as well so that the younger generation will also know about the danger that landslides pose.”
Lee said this during a public awareness programme on landslide organised by the Miri Division Disaster Management Committee and Public Works Department (JKR) here yesterday.
The programme was attended by residents in areas with high potential of landslides occurring and victims of landslides that occurred on Jan 7 in Kampung Lereng Bukit, here.
He urged all parties to take care of the environment to avoid pollution and erosion and at the same time know the dangers of landslides and the measures to be taken to mitigate the occurrence of landslides.
“The report received by Miri Resident and District Office with regards to the latest landslide will be further reviewed to come up with the best solution to curb this problem and they ( Miri Resident and District office) will continue to monitor the situation at landslide- prone areas especially the Canada Hill, thus I hope the public will give their full cooperation as well,” Lee said.
Meanwhile JKR Malaysia Slope Engineering branch director Major Ir Mohammad Tajul Urus Tajuddin said development in hillslopes must be properly planned and controlled.
“Where necessary, a place should be gazetted as ‘green lung area’ whereby it is not permitted for development if an area has been identified as dangerous and prone to landslides erosion,” he said.
During the half day programme yesterday, participants were briefed on landslides in Miri, landslides and slope maintenance, slope hazard mapping and slope correction methods.
The programme aims at creating awareness among communities on the dangers of landslides and the collective responsibility in monitoring and protecting the environment, especially the hill slopes to avoid landslides.