THE collapse of a sewer pipe structure weakened by chemical reactions and unstable soil was identified as the primary cause of the sinkhole incident at Jalan Masjid India in August last year, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa revealed during a parliamentary session today.
Dr Zaliha explained that a special investigative team led by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) found no direct link between the incident and the limestone layer beneath the ground, a concern previously raised by the public.
“The site is situated on the Kenny Hills Formation underlain by shale rock, while the limestone layer lies some 60 to 70 metres deep. Therefore, the incident cannot be directly associated with limestone,” she said.
The minister added that the formation of cavities beneath the pedestrian walkway, which ultimately caused the sinkhole, was due mainly to the deterioration of sewer pipes caused by chemical reactions coupled with soil instability.
The incident had tragically claimed the life of G Vijaya Lakshmi, a woman from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India, who disappeared after falling into the eight-metre-deep sinkhole on 23 August 2024.
Dr Zaliha said a full investigative report was submitted to the Cabinet on 20 August this year, with DBKL preparing a special public report due for release by year-end to provide further clarity to the community.
In response to supplementary questions about preventive measures, Dr Zaliha noted that DBKL is currently conducting extensive geotechnical studies around key roads in Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle using advanced methods such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR).
“Preliminary findings indicate no areas at high risk of sinkhole formation. This study is crucial to safeguarding infrastructure in the city centre and the ASEAN Summit venue,” she stated.
She further revealed that the government has established a more capable Emergency Response Team (ERT) to ensure swift and effective action should similar incidents occur in future.
Highlighting the area’s recovery, Dr Zaliha remarked, “A year on, Jalan Masjid India has returned to normal, with bustling activities such as the recent Deepavali celebrations demonstrating public confidence. Even the Prime Minister attended Friday prayers there in March.”
She added that the Federal Territories Department intends to present the report to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Communications. Combining this with similar sinkhole reports from Sepang and Georgetown, she said, would help form a comprehensive national mitigation strategy. - October 23, 2025
