The 2007 International Forum on Landslide Disaster Management proceedings of the 2007 International Forum on Landslide Disaster Management, Hong Kong, 10 12 December 2007
Malaysia has her fair share of slope problems in tandem with the increase in development that encroaches into the hilly areas. The first landmark landslide event occurred in 1993 when a condominium block constructed on a slope toppled over due to a landslide that undermined the structure. There were other landslide events that occurred subsequent to 1993 event that resulted in many fatalities and more destruction but no concrete action was carried out to manage the slope. However, the event has created awareness amongst the public. After a series of disastrous high profile landslides following the 1993 landslide event, the Malaysian government established a Slope Engineering Branch within the Public Works Department of Malaysia in 2004. One of the first missions assigned to the Slope Engineering Division is to develop a slope master plan for the whole of Malaysia. The Slope Master Plan is a blueprint for the management of slopes and other matters related to slopes which include emergency preparedness, early warning system and public awareness. This paper describes the slope development in Malaysia that has transpired since the first landmark landslide event in 1993. INTRODUCTION Malaysia is located between 1 and 6 degrees north of equator. Our neighbors are Thailand and the Philippines in the north, Singapore in the south and Indonesia in the east and west. Due to its location, Malaysia has a tropical climate, with high intensity and frequent rainfall, and high humidity. The temperature in the lowlands varies between 24 o C and 33 o C throughout the year. Two monsoon seasons from the north east and the south west bring plenty of rain to Malaysia. The population is approximately 27 millions (Department of Statistics 2007) which consists mainly of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous groups in Sabah and Sarawak. Malaysia is divided into three regions: Peninsular Malaysia located in the west; Sabah and Sarawak located in the island of Borneo in the east. The total land area of Malaysia is 330,000 km 2 The average rainfall is approximately 2600 mm per annum although the highest rainfall of nearly 6000 mm has been recorded in Sandakan, Sabah. Hourly rainfall of approximately 160 mm has also been recorded in the same area (Malaysia Meteorological Department 2007) Due to high intensity and total rainfall, Malaysia experienced frequent landslides, mostly rainfall induced. Records obtained from newspaper reports since 1966 indicate that before 1993, there were no fatalities due to landslides. This may be partly because of development during those periods occurring near rivers and in flood plain areas which were located at a distance away from the hilly areas. Only in late 1980s, extensive developments began to encroach into hilly parts of the towns and cities. Landslide did not come into prominence