PUCHONG – Despite reported soil movement in the area where a landslide occurred in Taman Wawasan, Puchong, on Saturday, not all residents in the immediate vicinity are keen on moving away.
A resident on Jalan Wawasan 3/9 who lives just a few doors away from the houses directly impacted by the landslide said that despite the risk, she, her husband and two children had no plans to vacate their premises, even temporarily.
Low Mee Yeng, 69, told Scoop they would stay put even though the water supply has been temporarily cut off.
“We will wait for a clear directive to vacate from the authorities. Even though some of my neighbours have moved out, I think my family and I are still safe because we are further away, about 100 metres away from the landslide.
“We are also tight on finances at the moment so we don’t want to move out, even though it is encouraged.”
This morning, Serdang police chief assistant commissioner A.A. Anbalagan said the landslide area at Jalan Wawasan 3/9 was still experiencing soil movement and posed a danger to houses nearby.
The landslide on a road embankment in front of houses on that road occurred at 7.26pm on Saturday following heavy rainfall. No one was injured though four vehicles were damaged.
The landslide took off a chunk of road right in front of some homes and at present, the residents of nine houses, totalling 29 people, have been ordered to vacate.
Other houses in the area near the landslide will also be undergoing structural assessment for possible damage.
Another resident, Lai Seow Yik, 48, hoped for clear information from the authorities on when it would be safe to move back home.
Lai, who has a job in China, said he had just arrived in Malaysia last night after hearing of the landslide.
He came to check on his home and belongings, and expressed shock that a landslide had occurred after 30 years of living here.
Lai, who has put up at a friend’s house, said the affected residents still have no information about when they can return to their homes, making it hard for them to plan temporary accommodations.
Earlier today, Petaling district disaster management chief Rahilah Rahmat said the temporary evacuation shelter opened for households affected by the landslide was closed last night.
This is because those who vacated their homes had chosen to stay with their families.
Meanwhile, only four out of the nine families ordered to move out of their houses due to the landslide have taken up Subang MP Wong Chen’s offer of RM1,000 in financial support.
The PKR lawmaker said that as of noon today, four families came to his office to collect RM1,000 each, which he had offered yesterday to those who had to evacuate because of safety concerns.
He said his office will remain open for a few more days for the remaining families to collect the financial aid if needed. The office will then close for its annual accounting and audit exercise.
Those ordered to vacate will not be able to return home for at least a week, or even more, while work to stabilise the area with 375 iron piles is in progress. – December 18, 2023