RAUB: Popular highland tourist destination, Fraser’s Hill, is now facing growing safety concerns due to the presence of dormant landslide zones—areas with the potential to reactivate, particularly after prolonged rainfall or disturbances to the natural slope structure.
A Mingguan Malaysia report today said authorities have recorded 139 landslide incidents in recent years, with 60 of them blocking the main access road to the hilltop retreat.
The primary contributing factors include steep slopes, weak lithology (rock structure), and changes in land use.
Heavy rainfall is the primary trigger that destabilises the slopes, putting road users and visitors at serious risk.
According to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences senior lecturer Dr Nor Shahidah Mohd. Nazer, dormant landslide zones can be reactivated when disturbed.
Dr Nor Shahidah explained that these landslide zones are often covered by vegetation, making it difficult to visually detect slope instability, even though the ground continues to degrade structurally due to ongoing weathering and erosion.
“Over time, these zones can become active again, potentially triggering secondary landslides.
“Based on a mapping exercise conducted in 2019, we identified numerous active landslide zones along both the ascending and descending roads to Fraser’s Hill.
“There are many small, shallow landslides worsened by erosion. When viewed as a whole, the Fraser’s Hill area is essentially a complex of old, dormant landslides,” she told Mingguan Malaysia.
She observed more than 30 landslide and major erosion sites along the route to Fraser’s Hill during a recent visit.
Notably, three to four active landslide locations were identified along the one-way road heading uphill, with more landslides and erosion detected near the waterfall area and along the downhill routes.
According to the International Geotechnical Societies’ Unesco Working Party on World Landslide Inventory (1990), a landslide is considered “inactive” if no movement has occurred in the past 12 months.
“Even if movement is slow or barely noticeable, dormant landslides still carry the potential to reactivate.
“Their original features are often obscured by natural weathering and dense vegetation, and new landslides can form on top of older ones, making them even harder to detect.”
She emphasised that slope safety and land stability in highland areas like Fraser’s Hill must be taken seriously, especially when considering sustainable tourism and development.
She urged authorities and local communities to adopt nature-based solutions as effective and ecosystem-friendly alternatives to manage landslide risks in the area.
“Extreme disturbance to the natural landscape doesn’t just increase landslide probability — it also disrupts the surrounding biophysical balance.
“Engineering solutions should be kept to a minimum, used only as needed based on slope sensitivity.”
Among her recommendations are stabilising slopes with deep-rooted vegetation like vetiver grass, creating natural drainage systems following the mountain contours and rehabilitation of disturbed forest reserve zones.
Raub member of parliament Chow Yu Hui had previously claimed that Fraser’s Hill is being perceived by some tourists as a “ghost town” due to safety concerns, especially the frequent landslides.
Malaysian Nature Society Pahang chapter chair Dr Muhamad Rusdi Ahmad Rusmili agreed that continuous monitoring of slope safety and road conditions is crucial.
He emphasised the need for real-time geohazard data to be made accessible to ensure the safety of both locals and ecotourists.
“We would like to remind all stakeholders that Fraser’s Hill is classified as an Environmental Sensitive Area Rank 1, where development activities are restricted to education, research, and ecotourism only.
“Any plans to upgrade roads or slopes must be carefully assessed to avoid damaging the ecosystem.
“We also urge authorities to limit development activities in Fraser’s Hill to reduce risks and prevent further landslides.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
