SANDAKAN: The Sandakan Rainforest Park, Kebun Cina Forest Reserve, is temporarily closed to the public until further notice.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, said the closure was due to a landslide near a SESB Grid Line pole, which is at risk of collapsing and may pose serious danger to visitors’ safety.
The landslide was caused by continuous heavy rain resulting from the monsoon surge affecting Sandakan since Wednesday night.
The landslide also impacted the residential area of Taman Indah Jaya, located near the hillside.
Frederick said the authorities took immediate action by temporarily closing the recreational forest to prevent any unwanted incidents for visitors.
Elopura Assemblyman Calvin Chong said the authorities, especially the State Government, need to be more aware of landslide incidents occurring in areas behind the houses in Taman Indah Jaya, particularly Lorong 2, 13, 24, 27, 28 and 37.
“The authorities should conduct a risk assessment by appointing a technical team to evaluate the landslide risk in the area.
“This is not the first time such incident occurred and it has raised concerns among local residents, potentially posing serious safety risks,” he said in a statement.
Calvin also received reports that the landslide had caused damage to the structures of nearby houses.
“Restoration work must be carried out immediately, including slope reinforcement and rehabilitation of the affected area,” he said.
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