In response to heightened concerns over ground stability, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has introduced a stringent new requirement for all construction planning applications within the city. As of Aug 27, all such applications must now include a comprehensive geotechnical study prepared by certified engineers before approval.
This new directive, issued by Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, reflects an urgent need to prioritise safety following a recent and tragic sinkhole incident in the Jalan Masjid India area. On Aug 23, a 48-year-old Indian tourist, Vijayaletchumy, was fatally injured after being swallowed by an 8m-deep sinkhole while walking along a concrete path outside Malayan Mansion. The event has galvanised city officials to act swiftly to prevent future occurrences.
Under the directive, development orders, building plan approvals, construction permits, or earthwork approvals will be granted once the required geotechnical study has been thoroughly reviewed and approved. DBKL’s executive director for planning, Datuk Zulkurnain Hassan, formally communicated this instruction on Aug 26 in a letter addressed to the directors of the City Planning, Building Control, and Infrastructure Planning Departments and the head of the local authority’s one-stop committee.
Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, commenting on the new measure on Aug 26, emphasised that DBKL has been directed to work closely with geologists and infrastructure experts to evaluate and mitigate the risks of future sinkholes. She also noted that geotechnical studies must be submitted earlier in the planning approval process as part of a broader effort to reinforce standard operating procedures.
