EXPERT: WRONG SOIL USED IN BUKIT KUKUS PROJECT
Sandy soil was used to fill site, making its structure weak, says expert
IF the Bukit Kukus paired road project proceeded as planned, it would have spelled greater disaster, Universiti Sains Malaysia Landslide, Disaster Management and Soil Erosion expert Professor Dr Habibah Lateh said yesterday.
Habibah said this was because sandy soil was used to fill the site, which was unsuitable.
She said the bedrock structure at the site worsened the situation as the hill comprised granite stones. The composition of the granite stones, upon chemical weathering, would form sand and mud, making the soil structure loose.
“I accompanied the National Disaster Management Agency to inspect the site today (yesterday). From my observation, the sandy soil makes the structure (of the site) weak and not solid for development (of the paired road project). It is definitely not the right soil.
“If the project had proceeded as planned, even without the landslide, it will still spell danger due to the soil structure.
“I am not here to find fault with anybody, but it seems like we have not learnt from past disasters,” she said after visiting the site.
Habibah asked the authorities monitoring the project if engineers had gone down to the ground to check the situation.
“Did they (developers) follow the standard operating procedure (SOP)?
“According to the structure planning, it is clear that there should be no development above 76m and on a slope gradient of 26m.
“What is alarming (in this case) is the way the slope was cut and where the containers were situated. There is water running down. And the water will bring with it loose soil, and in the process, bring with it the containers.
“It is acceptable if this is due to natural causes. But if it involves human factors, it should be given serious attention so that future disasters can be prevented.”
She said detailed studies on soil suitability should be conducted before implementing a project.
A massive landslide struck the Bukit Kukus paired road project construction site on Friday afternoon.
To date, rescuers have retrieved the bodies of nine foreign workers and rescued three people.
Two bodies were retrieved on Monday, three on Sunday and two each on the first and second day of the search-and-rescue operation.
All of the deceased, save for a Bangladeshi, were on the official missing persons’ list.
Rescuers are now looking for another Bangladeshi, whose name is on the list.