KKR MONITORING OVER 2,000 HIGH-RISK SLOPES NATIONWIDE DURING MONSOON – NANTA

BALIK PULAU, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- The Works Ministry (KKR) is closely monitoring more than 2,000 high-risk slopes nationwide during the ongoing northeast monsoon season, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said the slopes were among 27,000 identified under the Public Works Department’s (JKR) Disaster Operations Room (BiGBen) system.

“We know the locations and severity levels of these slopes, those requiring immediate action and those under close watch, with continuous monitoring being carried out,” he told reporters after inspecting a slope repair project along Jalan Balik Pulau–Teluk Bahang here today.

bootstrap slideshow

The visit was also attended by Penang Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.

Nanta said the ministry allocates between RM200 million and RM300 million annually for slope repair works along federal roads to ensure public safety.

He added that 73 rain gauge stations have been installed nationwide to monitor rainfall and provide early warnings during the monsoon period from Nov 5 to March 2026.

“When rainfall exceeds 115 millimetres, data from these stations is immediately transmitted to headquarters and forwarded to the relevant districts,” he said.

On today’s visit, Nanta said RM1.3 million had been approved for maintenance work on a slope damaged by landslides on Oct 23 and 24, with construction set to begin on Nov 14 and expected to take four months.

He said the ministry’s long-term maintenance contracts will enable faster response to critical slope issues without lengthy procurement delays.

-- BERNAMA