Erosion and Blocked Drainage Led to Taman United Landslide, Says Seputeh MP

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 25) — The landslide that struck Taman United on Monday morning was likely caused by a weakened retaining wall that had deteriorated over time due to water erosion and poor drainage maintenance, according to Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok.

After inspecting the site with officers from the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Department of Mineral and Geoscience, Kok said the retaining wall was not reinforced and had structurally failed after prolonged water seepage.

“The retaining wall was not of the reinforced type and had long lost its strength due to water erosion. The presence of large trees added extra load,” she said on Tuesday.

Kok explained that the roots of ageing trees had intruded into the drainage channels, blocking water flow and contributing to excessive pressure on the already fragile wall — a common issue in older residential zones across commercial property in KL and other mature neighbourhoods.

Residents Urged to Evacuate for Safety

Following the collapse, residents of Block C were instructed to relocate temporarily to the Sri Petaling Community Hall as a safety precaution.

Kok urged full compliance, noting that the Social Welfare Department and her parliamentary office would assist affected families at the hall and coordinate immediate support.

Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Department of Mineral and Geoscience director Rusli Mohamad also joined the inspection and is overseeing technical assessments related to slope stability and soil movement.

Background of the Incident

The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department received the emergency call at 11.02am on Monday, after continuous rainfall triggered soil movement along Jalan Sepadu 6. The collapse affected vehicles and forced the evacuation of more than 100 residents. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

The landslide highlights the growing need for preventive slope maintenance in older KL communities, especially as the city continues to urbanise alongside rapid expansion in areas such as office space in Bukit Jalil, factory developments in Puchong, industrial land in Selangor, and industrial property growth in the Subang area.