Over 1,000 Risky Slopes Identified Nationwide - Nanta

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- A total of 1,087 out of 34,400 slopes nationwide have been identified as risky and are under close monitoring by the Disaster Operations Room (BiGBen), activated by the Public Works Department (JKR) ahead of the Northeast Monsoon season.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said that of the 1,087 risky slopes, 1,066 were in the peninsula, seven in Sabah, one in Sarawak, and 13 in Labuan.

“The BiGBen system monitors all categories of slopes with the support of the latest technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). BiGBen plays a key role in disaster preparedness.

“It is hoped that more technological elements will be used to further improve the system,” he said after attending the Ministry of Works (KKR) Preparedness Programme ahead of the 2025 Northeast Monsoon at the JKR BiGBen here today.

According to Nanta, BiGBen provides almost real-time monitoring of disaster-related incidents, including floods, landslides, road subsidence and bridge damage, using input from JKR officers at the district level.

He said the information could not only be used by agencies such as the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), state governments and district offices, but could also be shared with the public through a mobile application.

Nanta said the system also allowed road users to check the status of fully or partially closed roads, along with available alternative routes.

Regarding the disasters in Sabah, he said JKR had deployed technical officers to the affected areas to provide technical advisory services.

“So far, there have been 10 cases of slope (collapse) along federal roads in Sabah.

“The total damage cost is still being assessed since the situation is ongoing. If internal funds are insufficient, an application will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Works Ministry said in a statement that thorough preparations had been made for the disaster season, including the provision of 238.7 metres of Bailey bridges for emergency use in seven storage facilities.

“The storage facilities are located in the Kedah JKR Road Division and the District JKR offices in Temerloh, Pahang; Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan; Johor Bahru, Johor; Petaling, Selangor; Kinta, Perak; and Machang, Kelantan.

“In addition, Melaka and Terengganu have procured Bailey bridges using the 2025 allocation from the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS) for disaster preparedness and emergency purposes,” it said.

--BERNAMA