Tanah rata: Tanah Rata assemblyman (ADUN) Ho Chi Yang said he will request the government to consider installing a disaster early warning system in high-risk areas, especially on residential slopes, to monitor soil movement. He said the need arises in Cameron Highlands, much so also after the landslide near Block C of the Puncak Arabella Apartments here last night.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the government has indeed installed Early Warning Systems, especially on slopes but the entire Cameron Highlands being a highland region means the landslide illustrates that it does not have such a system in place. Ho Chi Yang mentioned his plans to advocate for more early warning systems to detect ground movement, ensuring the safety of slopes in Cameron Highlands. He stated this after visiting the affected residents at the temporary evacuation centre (PPS) of Puncak Arabella hall.

He also noted that the Public Works Department (JKR) and several other agencies are conducting studies on Federal and State roads to identify high-risk locations for installing the early warning system. Meanwhile, Ho agreed that the authorities such as the JKR and the Minerals and Geosciences Department (JMG) are still investigating the Arabella landslide.

“At the same time, JKR and JMG are investigating if the slopes are currently safe. So, we have to wait for this study before we can decide if the residents can return to their homes,” he said.

During the landslide, a resident taxi driver, R. Parthipan, 48, recounted being at work when his wife heard their youngest child scream upon hearing a loud bang and seeing the shadow of a fallen tree near their unit. Parthipan explained that his house was on the second floor of the apartment, while another unit downstairs was near the slope, making his block look very risky. “It was really frightening. I couldn’t go up as the road was cut off, we were communicating by phone.”

Earlier, access to the entrance to Puncak Arabella Apartments at Tanah Rata in Cameron Highlands was cut off by the landslide on the hillside near Block C at 8.30 pm yesterday. It occurred after continuous heavy rain, cutting off access to 346 houses and causing 28 housing units in the block to be in a precarious condition. So far, a total of five families consisting of 19 victims have been placed at the Arabella PPS.