The hush hush and controversial report on the killer Bukit Antarabangsa landslide has found its way to the Internet, blowing

the lid placed on it by the federal and the Selangor governments.

A check by Malaysiakini today, revealed that the 86 pages report was available on a popular file sharing website Rapidshare.

The document which is a clear Xeroxed copy of the original even bears the official stamp of a Selangor executive councillor.

Every page also bears the 'rahsia' (secret) stamp and contains detailed maps of the affected areas.

The investigation report, classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), was released by the Public Works Department (JKR) to the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council in September,

On Nov 18, Slenagor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim at a press conference announced that exercising his powers under Section 2 (c) of the OSA the report would be made available for public viewing on Nov 23 and that copies will be available at the MPAJ office.

landslide bukit antarabangsa 09 Khalid has also read out the executive summary and the main findings which led to the tragedy at Taman Bukit Mewah, Bukit Antarabangsa at 3.30am on Dec 6, 2008.

It claimed five lives and destroyed 14 houses.

The summary identified the following factors for triggering the landslide:

  • Loose soil from the earth dumping on the slope which took place when the area was being developed;
  • Poorly maintained/damaged drainage system on the failed slope and its surroundings;
  • Prolonged rainfall during the months of October and November;
  • Prolonged soil erosion that widened existing cracks and opened new tension cracks;
  • Heavy leakages from a water pipe along the abandoned houses due to soil erosion.
The full report, was however, held back, after the state government was rebuked by the federal government claiming that the menteri besar had breached the OSA, which carries a mandatory one-year jail sentence upon conviction, for releasing the cabinet red-taped report.

Water leaking from pipe

A brief glance into the report showed that a special committee, Slope Engineering Branch of the JKR, was formed to carry out the investigation.

landslide bukit antarabangsa car A total number of 21 eyewitnesses were called for interviews with slope these engineers. The interviews were to obtain information regarding the site's history as well as accounts of the events leading to the landslide.

According to the witnesses' accounts there had been "three loud crashing sounds... within a space of three to five minutes".

The gist of the report on the cause of the landslide cited water leakages from a pipe along the abandoned houses caused a build-up of high pore water pressure within the slope and increased moisture in the soil, thereby destabilising the slope.

The committee had also listed out the following recommendations,

  • Efforts must be made to identify areas with similar non-compacted filed/dumped ground;
  • Repair and upgrade damaged and undersized drains within the vicinity of Bukit Antarabangsa;
  • Install subsoil drains at areas where there is water seepage and high ground water table;
  • Undertake instrumentation monitoring as an early warning system at high-risk areas;
  • Undertake detailed inspection and assessment of slopes showing signs of distress. Areas with prolonged soil erosion must be regularly inspected and preventive works must be immediately undertaken;
  • All water pipes adjacent to slopes shall be exposed;
  • All water and sewer utilities on slopes shall be inspected periodically for leakage and damage; and
  • All hillside development shall follow strictly to the development guidelines by the local authority.