RESIDENTS of five houses at Mukim 13 in Air Itam can now sleep with ease after the soil erosion nightmare has been successfully resolved.
Caretaker state Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, who was present to inspect the site, said the RM1.9 million works that had been undertaken in September last year has been completed in June this year.
“We prioritise the residents’ safety and comprehensive measures were taken to stabilise the slope and implement soil nailing works.
“The works included constructing a ‘tie back wall’, building a proper drainage system, erosion control netting for surface protection, and installing chain link fencing.
“Our objective for this project was to stabilise the slope following the landslip incident that happened back in 2017,” he said.
Zairil thanked the state Public Works Department for carrying out the restoration works.
Former Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng also lauded the state government for their unwavering committment to prioritising the safety and well-being of the residents.
“I had immediately brought up the matter to the authorities after receiving complaints from the residents,” he said.
One of the residents, Siti Robina Ramli, said that she and her husband, Mohd Salleh Hussain, had been staying there for the past 20 years.
“We are grateful to the state for their efforts in resolving this issue,” she said.
On a separate matter, Zairil, who is also the former Tanjung Bungah assemblyman, said parts of the Jalan Balik Pulau-Teluk Bahang federal road remains closed to traffic due to soil erosion.
He urged residents to understand the safety concerns behind the closure, especially after the removal of barriers.
A RM1.7 million restoration project is scheduled to start soon, with an expected completion time in two months.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting