PUTRAJAYA: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, has refuted claims of her absence and that she was not serious in responding to the sinkhole incident at Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, last Friday.
Zaliha clarified that she visited the site on Saturday, having rushed there after returning from Kuching, Sarawak, the previous day.
"I deny the accusation (that I did not visit the sinkhole incident).
"As a minister, of course I need to view matters related to the safety of the residents seriously.
"I directly contacted (Kuala Lumpur) mayor (Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif) to get the latest updates and to monitor the search and rescue operation," she said after officiating the 2025 Budget initiative for the Federal Territories and Putrajaya engagement session.
She added that her office also kept India's High Commissioner to Malaysia B.N. Reddy informed of the latest developments in the search-and-rescue mission.
Previously, on Sunday, media outlets reported that Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi had questioned Zaliha's absence at the location.
He said, as the area was a popular tourist site, she should have been among the first to visit.
The following day, addressing concerns raised by local residents about their safety, Puad urged the minister not to appear indifferent and only visit the area occasionally.
On Friday, a tourist from India, identified as Vijayaletchumy, 48, fell into an 8m-deep sinkhole after the ground gave way while she was walking near Malayan Mansion at 8.22am.
Zaliha also assured residents in the area that her ministry would continue to monitor the site's safety.
The city mayor had also guaranteed the area's safety, she added.
She said the ministry would review physical development procedures in Kuala Lumpur and advised residents to stay informed by obtaining the latest information from the authorities.
Yesterday, residents of the 160-unit Malayan Mansion flats expressed concerns over their safety, noting that the sinkhole on Friday was less than 50m away. They also claimed that recent heavy rains might have affected the soil structure in the area.