4 killed, thousands homeless

Najib: No more approval for risky hillside development KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 6, 2008): The government will not allow any development in hilly areas at risk of landslides to avert a recurrence of the mishaps, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said today. As such, he said, developers should not lobby the government for approval for projects in these areas. “I believe there is no reason to carry out development on hill slopes at risk of landslides. It is better to take preventive measures to avert possible disasters. “We have to learn from what has happened today,” he said during a visit to look at the landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa, Hulu Klang, near here.    Najib said there was no stopping developers from sending in their applications for hillslope projects once the stir over the landslide has eased. “Human beings have a short memory. In three or six months, people would have forgotten (what happened) and the developers will lobby for their applications to be approved. They do not learn from what has happened,” he said. Najib warned developers not to pressure the government for approvals or to regard the government’s action as harsh. However, he said the government should not be blamed if any area where development was not allowed in the first place was later found to be risk-free. He expressed satisfaction with the response of the rescue team. He said the rescue operation has to be done cautiously as the ground is still unstable. Najib said the government has evacuated more than 2,000 occupants of a block of condominium situated near the scene of the landslide. — Bernama

These are other responses to the disaster at Bukit Antarabangsa: 

 

Bukit Antarabangsa landslide disaster – urgent Parliament debate

http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2008/12/07/2122/

 

Criminal negligence – after Highland Towers tragedy 15 years ago

http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2008/12/07/bukit-antarabangsa-landslide-disaster-%E2%80%93-criminal-negligence-after-highland-towers-tragedy-15-years-ago/

 

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak asked all state governments to review ongoing hillslope projects to avert landslides similar to Saturday’s incident at Bukit Antarabangsa in Hulu Klang, Selangor

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/7/nation/20081207161532&sec=nation

 

Enough! No more hillside housing projects at Bukit Antarabangsa, orders Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/7/nation/2746282&sec=nation

 

Bukit Antarabangsa landslide – bitter vindication

http://elizabethwong.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/bukit-antarabangsa-landslide-bitter-vindication/

  

 

Nightmare on Ampang Hills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All pics (C) H.Berbar

 

  

B.Antarabangsa folks in jeopardy

This was how thousands of residents were evacuated in

Bukit Antarabangsa yesterday after the landslide. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Pics(C)H.Berbar

 

When these Malaysians bought their family homes, did they think that This would happen to them?  Did the thought that one day they and their children would have to struggle through cascading mud down a slippery dirt road for safety?  Where will they go?  What is to become of their home, a place which is supposed to be a safe haven for their families.  There are many questions that needs answers.

Massive landslide in B.Antarabangsa

THE STAR:  update at 3.30pm

KUALA LUMPUR: A massive landslide occurred in Bukit Antarabangsa at 4am Saturday. As of 2.20pm Saturday, three people are confirmed dead and 15 injured.  The landslide cut off access by the main road to the residential areas at Bukit Antarabangsa, trapping hundreds of residents.  As of 2.20pm Saturday, more than 2,000 residents have been evacuated, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.  He added that the search and rescue operation is ongoing for six people who are suspected to be buried but still alive.

On Saturday monring, Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the military has been roped in to create a slip road to enable trapped victims to be evacuated from the area.

As of 2.30pm Saturday the police had airlifted six people who needed immediate medical attention – two pregnant women, two elderly women with weak hearts, a man who is a stroke patient and another man who needed haemodialysis treatment.  The last man is said to have made it to the hospital just in time for his treatment.  Among the dead are a Shaiful Khas, 20, and N. Logeswari, 40.

A total of 93 people have been rescued while seven are still reported missing.  Also affected are 14 houses in Jalan Bukit Mewah and Jalan Mewah Utama.  The injured and the remains of the dead have been rushed to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.  A total of 160 police, army, Ampang Jaya City Council (MPAJ) and medical personnel are involved in the search and rescue operation.

According to BERNAMA, the injured were given first aid at the Addinniah surau before being sent to hospital. At least 12 ambulances were spotted at the scene.  One of the affected bungalows is owned by Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab, the principal private secretary to the prime minister.  Thajudeen and his family are safe. They were not at home at the time.

Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali said at the scene that earth movement continued to take place and that electricity supply to several housing estates in Bukit Antarabangsa was disrupted.

The site of Saturday’s landslide is believed to be 1.5km from the Highland Towers apartment building which collapsed on Dec 11, 1993, killing 48 people.