Poor drainage system was among factors that caused the landslide at Jalan Mahameru yesterday, said a senior officer of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Civil Engineering and Drainage Department director Tan Keng Chok said during heavy rain, water from the slope does not flow into the ditch but seeps into the ground.

"The causes the soil to sink," he told reporters when met at the location of the landslide today.

To overcome the problem, DBKL would cut the slope up to 45 degrees.

It would remove the soil before installing five barriers or 'berm' in each of the terraced slopes.

"We start with the top portion as the bottom portion is still under soil structuring. We will also do soil nailing, " he added. Soil nailing is a construction technique to restore the soil's surface.

It is expected to be completed no later than this afternoon.

Two layers of concrete barriers had been put up to prevent mud from falling onto the road.

"For the moment, we will remove the mud from the soft layer and cover the slope with canvas."

Tan said construction of the embankment which began yesterday is expected to be completed by the end of March.

"We will order the contractor to bring the soil to our temporary store in Bandar Baru Sentul before taken to the soil collection centre in Taman Metropolitan, Kepong."

- Bernama