Kuala lumpur: The first article in this two-part report looks at the construction of the Sabo Dam in Lojing as a mitigation measure to protect FT185, also known as the Second East-West Highway, from the threat of debris flows, safeguarding road users while ensuring the continuity of livelihoods and economic activities among inland communities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, when heavy rain lashes the Titiwangsa Range, the threat to Federal Route FT185, which connects the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia, goes beyond slippery roads or thick fog. Within a short period, torrents rushing down hillslopes can turn into debris flows carrying mud, rocks, and timber at high speed, posing a serious threat to road users and potentially severing the strategic route linking Simpang Pulai in Perak to Gua Musang in Kelantan.
A similar incident occurred in 2021 when runoff from the nearby highland area swept boulders, timber, and dead trees onto the road, burying both lanes along a 1.5-kilometre stretch and forcing the complete closure of the route. The incident not only damaged infrastructure and increased government expenditure on repair works but also disrupted the local economy, particularly for communities in the surrounding areas, as the route, also known as the Second East-West Highway, serves as a vital lifeline for local communities.
The Ministry of Works (KKR), through the Public Works Department (JKR), found that the threat could not be addressed simply through post-disaster repair works but required an engineering solution as a measure to mitigate and prevent larger-scale disasters. Technical assessments found that the valley between two slopes, coupled with limited vegetation cover, increased the risk of debris flows during heavy rain, potentially compromising slope stability in the area.
The result was the construction of the Sabo Dam at Section 61.00 of the Lojing-Gua Musang Road, an engineering approach that had previously proven successful in preventing landslides and debris flows at three sites in Raub, Pahang; Seremban, Negeri Sembilan; and Baling, Kedah. The RM10.4 million project began on June 18, 2025, and was completed on July 14, 2026.
What sets the Lojing Sabo Dam apart from the other three is that, for the first time in Malaysia, the structure has been integrated with a debris flow barrier, a high-strength steel net system designed to hold back large logs and rocks before they are swept towards the main structure.
For most people, the word 'dam' is associated with water storage or hydroelectric power generation. The Sabo Dam, however, serves a very different purpose. The structure is not designed to store water but to slow debris flows mixed with water, mud, rocks, and timber during heavy rain in highland areas. Such phenomena are common in hilly areas such as Lojing.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the Sabo Dam was designed to control flows, trap debris and sediment, and reduce the risk of overflow before it reaches roads or settlements. He stated that the system was an important component of the disaster mitigation strategy for highland areas such as Lojing, which receive high levels of rainfall. According to him, the slope repair project at FT185 Section 61.00 represents a long-term mitigation strategy that no longer relies on repairing damage after a disaster has occurred.
Stretching across the Titiwangsa Range, FT185 serves as a vital link between the east and west coasts, carrying lorries transporting agricultural produce, logistics vehicles, express buses, and tourists traveling to Cameron Highlands and Lojing. It is also a key route for inland communities to obtain essential supplies and basic services.
Unlike the other three Sabo Dams, the structure in Lojing incorporates a debris flow barrier, a high-strength steel net installed upstream to hold back logs and boulders before they reach the dam. This layered approach allows the debris flow barrier to serve as the first line of defense, while the Sabo Dam slows the flow of water and traps the mud, rocks, and sediment still being carried downstream.
On paper, constructing a Sabo Dam may appear to be a conventional engineering project. On the ground, however, the challenges are far more complex. The project site, located in a highland area with steep slopes, made it difficult to move heavy machinery and transport construction materials to the site.
Behind the project's success was another significant achievement; 100 percent of the workforce employed throughout its construction was local. Marhalim said every stage of the work was supervised by professional engineers to ensure that construction complied with the technical specifications set by JKR.
For residents around Lojing, the construction of the mitigation structure is more than just another development project. Instead, it offers reassurance that the road serving as a lifeline for their communities will remain accessible even during the rainy season. Galas State Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the Sabo Dam was built to address the problem of water overflow from a nearby waterfall area, as experienced in 2021.