AMPANG: Authorities need three days to prepare a technical report on whether the houses affected by the landslide at Jalan Kemensah Heights are safe to live in.

       Gombak MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (said the Geoscience and Mineral department needed three days to prepare the report.

       "It will determine whether the evacuated residents can safely return to their home.

       "In the meantime, we hope the residents can be patient. The priority of the state and Federal governments is their safety," he told reporters after reviewing the area affected by the landslide on Saturday (Sept 18).

       Azmin, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said as an immediate measure sheet piles would be installed to stop soil movement.

       "It will cost an estimated RM1mil to install and I have discussed with the Finance Minister on allocating immediate allocation.

       "When the soil movement is stopped, authorities can focus on strengthening slopes in the area," he added.

       As of Saturday, the houses in the area have not been damaged by the landslide, Azmin said.

       "Only the water flow of a nearby river was affected by the landslide," he said.

       Various departments, including the police, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council are working together to tackle the matter, Azmin said.

       It was reported that firefighters evacuated 28 people after a landslide affected a row of terrace houses on Jalan Kemensah Heights on Friday (Sept 17) night.

       Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Hafisham Mohd Noor, when contacted on Friday night, said that the landslide affected 19 houses.

       "No injuries were reported. All affected have been moved to a temporary centre for the time being," he said.

       He added that the cause of the landslide was due to the heavy rain.