SHAH ALAM (Nov 18, 2009) : A leaking water pipe on a slope was the main cause of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy which claimed five lives and destroyed 14 bungalows in Taman Bukit Mewah on Dec 6 last year, according to a technical report declassified by the Selangor state government today.

This was revealed in official secret documents containing reasons for the tragedy at 3.30am on Dec 6, 2008, which were declassified by the Selangor government today.

Speaking to the media after a weekly State Executive Council meeting, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said he had invoked his authority under Section 2(c) of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to declassify the documents that was given to the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).

"We discussed the report in our meeting and we have decided to make it available to the public, especially the affected parties, starting Monday," he said, adding that the MPAJ has been tasked with this.

A summary of the report will be available for free, while a detailed report will be made available at a cost, he added.

The summary, made available to the media, states that the technical committee set up to study the cause of the incident identified several measures that needed to be taken.

The committee, headed by the Slope Engineering division of the Public Works Department , involved 11 other agencies.

The committee found that a leaking pipe along a row of abandoned houses as having caused moisture build-up that weakened the slope leading to its collapse.

Other factors include the loosening of soil during development, the lack of maintenance, damage and lack of maintenance of drainage systems in the area surrounding the landslide.

Elizabeth Wong

Heavy rains between October and November 2008 also contributed to the overall gradual collapse of soil in the area.

Among the recommendations to solve the problems were to ensure that plumbing and pipes in the area, including for sewage systems, are not located underground and that these be closely monitored and maintained frequently, proper maintenance and expansion of drainsin Bukit Antarabangsa.

Also recommended are the construction of subsoil drains in areas where there is high retention of moisture in the soil, and the installation of sensors to monitor soil movement.

"Bukit Antarabangsa residents will know the real reasons behind the cause of the landslide when they read this report, and following this we will meet them in January to reevaluate the measures that we need to take to solve the problem of landslides in that area," said Abdul Khalid.

Selangor Environment, Tourism and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said the details and information of the report would be used as a tool to find ways to address the problem of landslides and to help those who experienced the tragedy in Bukit Antarabangsa.

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