Kuala lumpur: A total of 1,087 out of 34,400 slopes nationwide have been identified as risky and are under close monitoring by the Disaster Operations Room (BiGBen), activated by the Public Works Department (JKR) ahead of the Northeast Monsoon season. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi shared that of these risky slopes, 1,066 are located in the peninsula, seven in Sabah, one in Sarawak, and 13 in Labuan.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the BiGBen system monitors all categories of slopes with the support of the latest technology, including artificial intelligence (AI). BiGBen plays a crucial role in disaster preparedness, and there is hope for more technological elements to be integrated to further enhance the system. This was highlighted by Nanta during the Ministry of Works (KKR) Preparedness Programme ahead of the 2025 Northeast Monsoon at the JKR BiGBen.
BiGBen provides almost real-time monitoring of disaster-related incidents, such as floods, landslides, road subsidence, and bridge damage, using input from JKR officers at the district level. Nanta stated that the information gathered could be utilized not only by agencies such as the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), state governments, and district offices but also shared with the public through a mobile application.
The system also enables road users to check the status of fully or partially closed roads and find alternative routes. In response to disasters in Sabah, JKR has deployed technical officers to the affected areas to provide technical advisory services. There have been 10 cases of slope collapse along federal roads in Sabah to date, with the total damage cost still being assessed. If internal funds are insufficient, an application for additional funding will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
Meanwhile, the Works Ministry stated that thorough preparations had been made for the disaster season, including the provision of 238.7 metres of Bailey bridges for emergency use in seven storage facilities. These facilities are located in the Kedah JKR Road Division and the District JKR offices in Temerloh, Pahang; Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan; Johor Bahru, Johor; Petaling, Selangor; Kinta, Perak; and Machang, Kelantan. Additionally, Melaka and Terengganu have procured Bailey bridges using the 2025 allocation from the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS) for disaster preparedness and emergency purposes.