INVESTIGATIONS have found that at least seven underground pipes at the site of the landslide on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy (Maca) grounds in Kuala Lumpur were leaking.

Public works deputy director-general (infrastructure sector) Zulkipli Nasri said this had caused a large quantity of water to flow from the pipes, estimated to be more than 40 years old, resulting in a landslide.

“There is a lot of water flowing out at the site. So I think that could be the cause. Further investigations will be done,” he told reporters after a visit by public service director-general Zulkapli Mohamed to the location of the landslide today.

“The early indicator from Maca is that its water bill had gone up.”

Yesterday, Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the Public Works Department found leakages in the water piping system at the location of the landslide.

He said the leakages led to the soil being fully saturated, further increasing the lateral force on the contiguous micropile retaining wall.

Meanwhile, Zulkapli said the status of the Maca building on whether it is safe for occupancy could only be determined in the next three weeks after the Public Works Department conducts a detailed assessment.

“For now, we are not allowing any Maca staff to work from here until the authorities give the all-clear to do so,” he said. – Bernama, April 27, 2023.