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Official Portal
DEPARTMENT OF MINERAL AND GEOSCIENCE MALAYSIA (JMG)
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES)
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IPOH: Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam (NRES) memberi jaminan bahawa hasil perlombongan mineral unsur nadir bumi bukan radioaktif (NR-REE) akan kekal menjadi hak kerajaan negeri yang mengusahakannya.
Menterinya, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad berkata, ia kerana berpandukan Perlembagaan, perlombongan sebarang jenis mineral termasuk NR-REE, selain minyak dan gas (O&G) di bawah bidang kuasa kerajaan negeri.
IPOH: The Federal Government currently has no plans to manage non-radioactive rare earth element (NR-REE) resources, including through government-linked companies (GLCs).
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the government is still discussing the REE industry framework and planning how to manage REE resources, following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's vision to not only extract but also process and sell these materials.
"Perak has experience as a tin producer and we want to do something similar in the REE industry, by extracting and processing the resources locally so that the value stays within the country," he told a press conference near here today.
He said there are no plans to set up a GLC to manage NR-REE at this time, even though the idea has been discussed in Parliament, adding that according to the Constitution, the management of minerals other than oil and gas falls under state government authority.
Nik Nazmi further assured that there are no concerns about GLCs managing NR-REE.
In July, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad confirmed that the state government will keep NR-REE under state control and will not involve GLCs in its management.
KUALA LUMPUR: Ever since last Friday (Aug 23), money changer Noor has felt fear whenever she steps out of her workplace on Jalan Masjid India.
“When I am in the building, I feel safe but when I am walking outside, I feel afraid … I am looking at the ground in fear,” said the mother of two, who has been working in the bustling area for about 10 years.
An Indian tourist fell into a sinkhole in front of Malayan Mansion last Friday morning, mere metres from where Ms Noor works. While she did not witness the incident, she has watched the video of what happened and worries the same could happen to her.
“I don’t know how many times I have walked on that exact spot. Sometimes in the morning, I am seated on that bench next to the spot while waiting for the shop to open,” said Ms Noor, who declined to provide her full name.
On Fridays, thousands of Muslims would also attend prayers at Masjid India, spilling out to the surrounding areas with their prayer mats, added Mr Hairul Hizwan, 34, who runs a stall selling Malay kueh, drinks and coconut water.
“I can only imagine if the incident had occurred then,” he told CNA.
Ever since the incident, the area – home to several department stores and goldsmiths – has been shunned by locals and tourists alike.
Ms Noor said business at her shop has plunged by nearly 90 per cent. “This is a tourist area where thousands (typically) come for shopping because of the competitive prices,” she said.
Mr Hairul, who has been operating there for the past 15 years, could easily sell 400 curry puffs a day before the incident. In recent days, he has sold less than half that amount.
“Like it or not, I must come here. I earn a daily wage and don’t have a fixed monthly income,” he lamented. “I don’t know how long this will be for.”
Mr Mohd Zuri Yusoff, a security guard at the Malayan Mansion, said he was shocked to hear about the incident as the walkway was used by thousands of people daily.
"I am definitely more careful now when I walk around the area," he said, adding he would also continue to show up for work.
While this is not the first time a sinkhole has appeared on the street – a similar cave-in occurred about 50m away just last month in front of the Masjid India community police station – the heightened worry is because last Friday’s incident claimed a victim, they believe.
Search and rescue efforts for the missing victim, identified as Ms Vijayaletchumy, entered their fifth day on Tuesday (Aug 27) with rescuers doing more flushing of the manholes around the area and searching the Pantai Dalam treatment plant 7km away, where the sewer ends.
Separately, another cave-in occurred on Aug 27 in the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Kampung Kerinchi, along Jalan Pantai Permai, due to a collapsed drain. No casualties or injuries were reported.
Malaysian social media has been abuzz, sharing past research findings of the Malaysian capital being susceptible to sinkholes, landslides and rockfalls due to its geology.
According to a 2017 study by researchers from the Universiti Teknologi MARA’s Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Kuala Lumpur has two different geological formations: The Kenny Hill Formation which consists of sedimentary rocks, and Kuala Lumpur Limestone Formation with “highly erratic karstic constituents”.
Rapid development over the past 158 years has led to “specific changes in topography and geomorphology such as the appearance of sinkholes”, the study stated.
While sinkholes cannot be completely prevented, the authors said they can be systematically managed, such as by accurately mapping hazard zones before any development takes place.
Many cities around the world are, in fact, built on limestone, said Dr Lim Choun Sian, senior researcher at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
“It is not really a red flag to build on limestone,” he told CNA. “You must make sure that the design and construction is based on proper investigations and there must be proper mitigation measures in place.”
The cause of last Friday’s incident is still not known, experts noted.
While the city’s widespread limestone bedrock is well-known, this does not apply to all areas of Kuala Lumpur, noted Dr Nor Shahidah Mohd Nazer, an expert in geological engineering and soil mechanics.
Agreeing, Dr Lim said that it has not been established that the Masjid India area is built on limestone.
“It is possible that it is, but we can’t say until there are checks. People are just making guesses that it is, because almost half of Kuala Lumpur is on limestone,” he said.
“We have to establish the kind of geology and conduct thorough investigations.”
Even if the incident site is built on limestone, which is prone to dissolution, this does not happen overnight, said Dr Nor Shahidah of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
“We are talking about the geological time scale here so maybe hundreds, thousands or even a million years,” she said, adding that she disagreed with claims circulating online that Kuala Lumpur is unsafe and there was potential for a “giant sinkhole” to emerge at any time.
“The area is close to a major river confluence so ground saturation and underground water flow could potentially exacerbate undercutting erosion and (cause) part of the soil stratum to be hollowed,” she added.
The day before, several areas of Kuala Lumpur including in the city centre had been hit by flash floods following heavy rain.
The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) also noted in a statement after the incident that the sinkhole appears to be about 24m from Klang River.
That said, cave-ins can also be human-induced, said Dr Lim. A 10m-deep sinkhole on a road in the Golden Triangle area of Kuala Lumpur in 2014 was caused by a burst water pipe, for instance.
Based on photos and videos taken of the Jalan Masjid India site, last Friday’s incident could be associated with utilities, Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) president Dr Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin said on Sunday.
There have been several similar incidents in Kuala Lumpur in the past few years, but they may not have been reported as the cave-ins “didn’t swallow people or cars”, added Dr Lim
Despite reassurances by Kuala Lumpur mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif, the question on many people’s minds is whether Kuala Lumpur – a city of almost two million inhabitants – is structurally safe. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, has a population of almost 9 million people.
Experts CNA spoke to did not disagree with Dr Maimunah, who had said Kuala Lumpur has been developed for a long time and claims that it was unsafe for development must be backed up by strong evidence.
Most of Kuala Lumpur’s construction would have adhered to certain standards, Dr Lim noted.
“You can’t simply build modern buildings. There are a lot of underground trains in the city and digging (of) the tunnels couldn’t have been done without the proper investigations, many of which have been done by international experts.
“Accidents happen but they don’t only happen in Malaysia,” he said.
Last Friday’s incident is a reminder to observe rigorous engineering standards, as well as an opportunity to reassess heavily developed areas in light of climate change, experts said.
It has shown the importance of keeping to best practices in the design, construction and maintenance of underground utilities, IEM's Dr Chiang said in a statement on Aug 25
He told CNA that local authorities, particularly the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, should look into the mapping of ground conditions using sonar or geophone mapping, especially in key areas where there are high concentrations of people.
“Of course there will be a cost to it but this would … alleviate the concerns of people,” he said.
Dr Nor Shahidah said there is a need to address urban geology issues that have come to the fore because of climate extremes.
Residents living in some sinkhole-prone areas have also urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall to publish the city’s underground mapping system so they can be informed of the infrastructure lying beneath their neighbourhoods, local media reported.
Civil society group Save Kuala Lumpur’s chairman M Ali said Bangsar, Federal Hill and Brickfields have been “prone to sinkholes for decades, with some occurring in quick succession within days”, news outlet The Star reported.
By publishing the city’s underground mapping system, Kuala Lumpur City Hall can “promote transparency, accountability and, most importantly, safety”, Brickfields Rukun Tetangga chairman SKK Naidu told The Star.
Like them, Ms Noor, the money changer along Jalan Masjid India, wants to feel safe again.
“There are so many buildings here. What if the land below the buildings is not stable? Could the buildings here collapse suddenly and cause more loss of life?” she asked.
The victim, identified as Vijayaletchumy, 48, had been walking on a concrete path outside Malayan Mansion when an 8m-deep sinkhole suddenly opened up and swallowed her alive.
Relentless search and rescue efforts have followed but the victim has yet to be found. Meanwhile, a wastewater expert has expressed fears that the victim is unlikely to have survived the high speeds at which water flows along the sewer lines.
How do sinkholes occur?
Sinkholes occur when an underground area can no longer accommodate the weight of its surface terrain. Simply put, these cave-ins are caused by erosion occurring beneath ground level.
This phenomenon usually takes place in areas where the surface rock comprises limestone or other forms of carbonate rock, salt beds and other materials capable of being naturally dissolved by groundwater.
As flowing water slowly chips away at subterranean foundations and destabilises the bedrock, hidden new caves emerge. These may collapse, creating sinkholes.
Natural and human factors
Underground erosion may arise both naturally or as a result of human activity.
The movement of water is a ubiquitous natural force in our world. It not only shapes landscapes visible to us, such as karst pinnacles and sea stacks, but also creates hidden underground rivers and caves.
Limestone terrains are particularly vulnerable to water erosion. Rainfall absorbs carbon dioxide from the soil before converging with the underground water, turning it slightly acidic.
This waterflow erodes the limestone sub-terrain and creates a network of cavities and voids. The US state of Florida, which has a geographical terrain primarily composed of limestone, is particularly prone to cave-ins.
Many sinkhole accidents are also attributable to rapid urbanisation.
For example, drought and high groundwater withdrawals may reduce the buoyancy of an area and trigger the sinking of sub-terrain areas into cavities. Similarly, changes to groundwater composition due to the introduction or removal of waterflows may flush out looser materials and precipitate sinkholes.
Faulty underground water pipes may also give rise to deadly urban sinkholes. Even a slight gap between these pipes is capable of introducing a large amount of water into adjacent soil, dislodging and eventually causing the subsurface to become unstable.
Despite the growth of cavities beneath the ground, no obvious signs of instability tend to appear above it.
With many of our utility pipes placed directly below ground, the paving of roads and pathways often acts as a bridge above sinkholes, hiding insidious voids below.
If a cavity is not discovered and resolved in time, the surface is likely to eventually give way and swallow everything above ground.
Early detection?
Although the existence of sinkholes underground is usually not apparent, several subtle signs may hint at a possible collapse of the sub-terrain.
Cracks in a foundation, an inability to close doors and windows properly, and the appearance of ground cracks in circular patterns are all tell-tale signs of ground instability which may point to the potential emergence of a sinkhole.
Since the tragic event on Friday, the government has advised the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and all utility companies to carry out a mapping of all underground utilities in an attempt to ascertain the state of the terrain below so that further untoward incidents can be avoided.
Other notable sinkhole incidents
One of the most well-known sinkhole accidents took place in Guatemala 14 years ago. On May 30, 2010, a giant sinkhole appeared without warning in Guatemala City, the Central American country’s capital.
The monstrous cavity, measuring 20m wide and 90m deep, swallowed a three-storey factory and its security guard. It was reported that the sinkhole occurred due to a combination of causes.
Subterranean stability in the area had been undermined both by natural causes in the form of a tropical cyclone and a volcanic eruption, and as a result of human activity, arising from sewer pipe leakages.
Sinkholes in natural habitats have sometimes also created astonishing natural sights.
For example, the Great Blue Hole, off the coast of Belize, has turned into a popular scuba diving destination. Recording a 300m width and 135m depth, the marine sinkhole was once a limestone cave system before the ocean rose.
Perkataan ‘geobencana’ menjadi sebutan seluruh rakyat Malaysia susulan kejadian wanita warga India terjatuh dalam tanah jerlus berhampiran Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur.
Masyarakat terutamanya para pelajar mula mencari-cari maklumat mengenai ‘geobencana’ yang dikatakan mengakibatkan kehilangan nyawa, kemalangan jiwa, kerosakan harta benda dan ekonomi serta boleh menjejaskan kualiti alam sekitar.
Berdasarkan pencarian maklumat oleh Sinar Bestari, geobencana atau dipanggil fenomena geobencana merupakan salah satu tajuk dalam mata pelajaran Sains Tingkatan Satu.
Ia terdapat pada Bab 9: Bumi dengan sub tajuknya Fenomena Geobencana.
Menurut buku rujukan Focus Sains Tingkatan 1, geobencana bermaksud bencana alam yang melibatkan proses geologi (sains tentang asal usul, sejarah, struktur dan komposisi bumi serta kaji bumi).
Fenomena geobencana boleh berlaku di mana-mana tempat dan pada bila-bila masa sahaja.
“Setiap tahun, geobencana menyebabkan banyak kematian, kecederaan dan kerosakan harta benda di setiap negara.
“Oleh itu, sains dan teknologi memainkan peranan yang semakin penting dalam menguruskan geobencana,” catat buku tersebut.
Satelit boleh menawarkan data yang tepat, kerap dan hampir serta merta di sebarang kawasan di bumi.
Apabila bencana berlaku, pengesan jarak jauh seperti satelit adalah satu cara untuk melihat apa yang berlaku di bumi.
Peralatan seperti seismometer digunakan untuk menyukat pergerakan bumi termasuk gelombang seismik yang dihasilkan oleh gempa bumi, letusan gunung berapi dan punca-punca seismik yang lain.
Selain itu, sistem amaran awal juga telah diwujudkan untuk memberi amaran kepada penduduk tempatan apabila geobencana dikesan.
Sistem amaran ini melibatkan penggunaan siren, telefon bimbit dan juga pengumuman melalui televisyen supaya masyarakat boleh membuat persediaan menghadapi kesan yang lebih teruk.
Kesan geobencana
Kesan negatif geobencana amat buruk terhadap kehidupan manusia.
Antara kesan-kesanya adalah;
1) Membawa kerugian besar kepada negara dan individu.
2) Menjejaskan aktiviti kehidupan individu atau masyarakat setempat yang menjadi mangsa dan turut memberikan impak sosial serta emosi kepada mereka.
3) Menjejaskan kesihatan mangsa di mana geobencana boleh menyebabkan kekurangan air bersih dan mangsa mudah terdedah kepada pelbagai jenis penyakit.
4) Memberi kesan kepada kemusnahan flora dan fauna.
5) Impak kepada sumber bekalan makanan di mana ia tidak dapat dihantar ke kawasan bencana kerana berlaku kesulitan seperti sistem perhubungan dan pengangkutan yang rosak. Situasi ini menyebabkan mangsa berada dalam keadaan kelaparan.
Tel: (+603) 8871 6000
Faks: (+603) 8871 6145 / 46
Email: helpdesk@jmg.gov.my
