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.

Press

Ban stays

Class 3 hillside development is not allowed in Selangor

By ELAN PERUMAL

The STAR METRO SATURDAY 16 AUG 2008

 

THE Selangor Government will not rescind its earlier decision to ban Class 3 hillside development.  State local government committee chairman Ronnie Liu, responding to a newspaper report on Thursday, said they would not bow to pressures from developers or any quarters to approve such development.  He said the report had no basis and there was no truth in claims that Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was keen to revert the state’s firm stand against the hillside development.

 

“We will not bow to pressure from any parties as the state government’s policy is aimed at protecting the interests of the public.  “There is no change in our policy on hillside development and we are serious about it,’’ he told StarMetro.

Banning hillside developments was among some the landmark decisions made by the Pakatan Rakyat state government soon after defeating the Barisan Nasional in Selangor in the general election in March.  Liu said they were also organising talks between residents, Real Estate and Housing Development Association (Rehda) and the government authorities to hear grievances from the public on development.

He said this was aimed at providing more opportunity for the public to air their views and complaints.  “We are elected by the people and our decisions will always protect the rakyat,’’ he added.  It was reported earlier that approval would no longer be given in the state for hillside development projects involving Class 3 and Class 4 slopes.

(Class 3 slopes are those with a gradient of 25 degrees while Class 4 slopes are 35 degrees and above.)

Khalid had also directed state executive councillor Ronnie Liu to summon the relevant municipal and district council representatives as well as residents protesting against hillside projects to discuss the problems and issues at hand.  He added that he and exco member in charge of housing, building management and squatters Iskandar Abdul Samad would be meeting Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Ong Ka Chuan to seek a solution to the problem.  “The house buyers have come to us asking the state government to settle the problem. We will support them but their problem can only be settled if we have the support and cooperation of the Federal Government,” said Khalid.

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Residents don’t want change

by Terence Fernandez

The SUN MONDAY 18 AUG 2008

 

 

Though the Selangor government says that the ban on hillside development stays, the fact that it is willing to meet developers who want the policy reversed has unnerved taxpayers.  And the fact that all stakeholders are not consulted or present when developers argue their case is causing concern that it would be back to the days when decisions were not transparent. 

 

DAP assemblyman for Bukit Gasing, Edward Lee, particularly, feels aggrieved as he campaigned on the platform that hillside development be banned.  “I was voted in based largely on this premise, and judging from what was disclosed in theSun, I am very upset that I was not even consulted about this attempt to compromise on this policy,” he told theSun yesterday at a meeting with 20 residents’ representatives from Ampang and Petaling Jaya.  Also present were Petaling Jaya City Council councillors Derek Fernandez, K.W. Mak and S. Ramakrishnan.  Lee was responding to Thursday’s front page report that developers, through the intercession of executive councillors Ronnie Liu and Teresa Kok, have sought a meeting with Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to reverse the policy.

 

Liu had reasoned that the developers are gravely affected by the ban on all development above 26° gradient as they cannot develop large swathes of land which they own due to this ruling — implemented four months ago upon Selangor falling to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition of PKR, PAS and DAP.  “We were elected on this ticket and a promise of an open and transparent government. Even the intent of going back on our word four months down the road is unfair to the people, and is political suicide,” Lee added. 

 

Fernandez refutes the developers’ argument that they would lose out if they are prevented from building houses on such land.  “Instead of supporting them, Ronnie and Teresa should ask them how they acquired hillslope land in the first place.  “The process of alienating land on hills and hillslopes is highly suspect and the state government should not entertain them at all. Come on!  They want to cut hills and whatever technology they use, will not be able to counter the environmental side effects,” he said.

 

There was nothing wrong in developers meeting State authorities, Fernandez said, to discuss specific problems but not to change a policy.  But the state, he added, cannot change policies overnight.  “Even if there is going to be a change, the stakeholders must be consulted and the whole process must be open. Wasn’t this what they promised of – transparency and accountability in the run-up to the elections?” he asked.  “It does not give the impression of impartiality when a profit-based private organisation tries to use two excos to break a policy,” he said, adding that the state government will be held accountable if it goes back on its word.

 

Condominium, Apartment and High Rise Committee chairman and deputy president of the All-Petaling Jaya Selangor Residents Associations Coalition Tengku Nazaruddin Tengku Zainuddin said the people are understandably edgy over these latest attempts by developers to reverse a government policy, judging by the numerous issues in the Klang Valley involving hillside development.  “There must be no compromise on this matter,” he said, adding that those entrusted with the people’s well-being should not bend over backwards especially when it involves safety. I am very upset that I was not even consulted about this attempt to compromise on this policy” Edward Lee, DAP assemblyman for Bukit Gasing.

________________________________________________

 

 

Press statement

by Teresa Kok

Selangor state senior exco on 18^th August 2008

The Accusation That The Selangor Government Intends To Reverse Policy On The Ban On Hill Slope Development Is Fictitious

The news report published by The Sun on 14^th August 2008 with the title of “Hillslope policy to be reversed?” written by Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez and the article written by The Sun’s journalist Nadeswaran under the title of “Business as usual on the hills” on 15^th August 2008 are  misleading and examples of irresponsible journalism.

I am protesting against the first news report which implicated YB Ronnie Liu and me for trying to push the state government to rescind our decision on the ban on hillslope development. The said article also mentioned that the Menteri Besar met with Rehda at my insistence, and “Abdul Khalid is not in favour of meeting the developers but sources say Kok and Liu coaxed him into it”.         

The fact is, there has been a meeting between Menteri Besar and excos with Rehda on 25^th July 2008. The meeting was requested by Rehda and it was agreed by the Menteri Besar in the exco meeting. As such the accusation in The Sun’s report is misleading, mischevious, fatally flawed and untrue.  It is in fact very malicious for the writers to put such lines in their report as they are subjective and based on hearsay from unnamed sources.

Ever since the Pakatan Rakyat came to power in Selangor, the state excos and MB have had series of meetings with various groups, including various business organizations. Selangor is business-friendly and people-friendly because both groups can co-exist and need each other.

The meeting between the MB, the Exco and Rehda on 25^th July 2008 was the first meeting after we came into power. Rehda’s representatives raised a series of problems facing them and hillslope development was only one in the list and not the only issue on that day. The way the two writers of The Sun singled out hillslope development as the only issue that was “lobbied” by Rehda via Ronnie Liu and me is absolutely not true.    

The conclusion of the dialogue between the MB and Rehda is that we will initiate a dialogue between NGOs and Rehda on hillslope development, so that both sides can understand each other’s position better.  Neither the MB nor any exco has ever come out with statement that said there might be a reverse on the ban on hillslope development whether privately or publicly.

As the two articles have created confusion and misunderstanding among residents and some NGOs on the issue, some NGOs have come out to protest against the “decision” yesterday.

This statement is to clarify the real situation and position of the Selangor government.

I also wish to voice my protest and utter disappointment the misleading message that has been sent out from the two articles written by both Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez of The Sun. I am very disappointed with the way Nadeswaran repeating the lie in his second article titled “Business as usual on the hills” on 15^th August 2008 after I have clarified with Nadeswaran.

I can only presume, rightly or otherwise, both Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez are very environmentally conscious and they want to pre-empt imaginary moves by the Selangor government to reverse the ban on hillslope development policy.  

While we support the writers’ freedom of expression, they should also learn to be fair, just and responsible in their writing, and should refrain from cooking up fairytales about the Selangor government.

Teresa Kok 

________________________________________________________

 

Fundraising

We are appealing for funds to help us pay for our legal battle against the development on our hillslopes including our representation at the Appeal Board next month.  Your generous donations will help cover the legal fees as well as fees for the town planner and geotechnical experts.  All contributions are to be made through cheques drawn in favour of Messrs Azman Davidson & Co.  Please write your name & contact with an address at the back of your cheque, for receipts will be issued.  For your convenience, they can be dropped off at house #42 Taman Hijau, Ukay Heights, 68000 Ampang.  For further details or clarification, please email us.

Let’s help keep our hills green and safe, help us fight for sustainable development.

 

 

The STAR

Not fighting a losing battle

By CHRISTINA LOW and FAZLEENA AZIZ

For the first time residents of eight residential areas in Ampang have come together to meet their elected representatives after the recent general election.

And there was a good reason for the meeting.

The residents from Taman Hijau, Ukay Heights, Taman TAR, Dataran Ukay, Taman Hillview, Bukit Antarabangsa, Taman Melawati and Taman Zooview met up with Selangor state executive councillor for tourism, consumer affairs and environment Elizabeth Wong, Gombak MP Azmin Ali and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin to air their grouses over the rampant hillside development projects in Ampang.

The gathering at Taman Hijau was attended by nearly hundred residents and saw many questions raised over the approved hillside developments by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and the future of the hills and nature reserves in Ampang, which they had fought for all these years.

Zuraida said that she was glad to see the residents coming together for a common cause and expressed her unhappiness over the projects too.

“I am very disappointed with some of the developers who have embarked on these projects without taking other matters such as the environment and the residents’ objection into consideration,” she said.

She also responded to Taman Hijau residents’ complaint over a proposed project on the 24.9ha-site (61.54-acre) near the Taman Hijau Apartment which is a mixed development comprising 149 bungalows and 460 shop/office units in a 10-storey building.

“The project will not only affect Taman Hijau residents but also the neighbouring areas. We would surely do our best to express our objection,” said Zuraida.

For Taman Zooview resident Tan Lor Chee, she was glad that the representatives came forward to meet the residents to get a clearer picture on matters.

“At least we know that we have the support of our wakil rakyat, and we hope they will continue to assist, listen to us and take action,” said Tan who had been living in Taman Zooview for the past 18 years.

Tan said the hillside developments near her area had caused plenty of damages to nature and the neighbouring areas like Ukay Perdana.

“We had monkeys coming into our compounds since their natural habitat were being destroyed,” said Tan.

The 50-year-old school-teacher also added that the residents had met up with the council couple of times but none of the meetings were fruitful.

Joint Action Committee For Bukit Gasing (JACBG) member Gary Yeoh said he appreciated that the state government was working on a more transparent mode.

According to an expatriate, who only wanted to be known as Denis, the residents were happy with the outcome of the meeting.

“Earlier all our objection letters to the council received terse replies stating that our objections were irrelevant considering these are major projects,” he said.

Among the other projects being planned for the area are the construction of 21 three-storey houses on a 1.85ha land between Jalan Kelab Ukay 5 and Jalan Kelab Ukay 6, a few meters away from the Sungai Sering. The site is situated next to an oxidation pond near Taman Kelab Ukay. Another project of concern to the residents is the Taman Melawati Hill in phase 3, a well-hidden recreational trail for many residents in and around Taman Melawati, where a proposed housing development project is set to take place.

Both projects had been approved by the MPAJ.

Recently Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim put two hillside projects in Bukit Antarabangsa, that was approved by the MPAJ, on hold until the projects were reviewed.

Thanks to English daily theStar & Chinese paper SinChew for covering our story.

A big thanks too to MALAYSIAKINI.TV for the following report:-

Elizabeth Wong promises to review ‘approved’ developments
12 April 2008 | 06:41 min
News Clips / General

The new Selangor state government has recently put a ban on hillslope development but allowing 141 hillslope projects that have been approved by the previous administration to continue.

Speaking to concerned residents of Ampang, Elizabeth Wong, Selangor exco member who the environment as one of her portfolios, said that she and her team will investigate the approved developments and urge the residents to assist her with information that she can take to the state government.
Camera & editing: Uzair Sawal

Thanks also to the following BLOGGERS for their reporting:

http://rockybru.blogspot.com/2008/04/uphill-task-in-saving-hill.html

http://serimenanti-solok.blogspot.com/2008/04/trail-of-destructions-yet-developers.html

http://muststopthis.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-does-it-take-for-us-to-pay-more.html

Last but not least, thanks to our friends in B.Antarabangsa:

http://www.antarabangsa.net/news.htm

 

See you on Sat 12th April 2008

We need to

SAVE AMPANG HILLS

 

Residents of

Taman Hijau, Ukay Heights, Dataran Ukay 

Taman TAR, Taman Hillview, Bukit Antarabangsa

Taman Melawati, Taman ZooView

 

In a call to the Selangor State Government to Save Ampang Hills. 

Stop the Landslides:  MPAJ must be accountable for their actions & projects they approve.

Keep the Greenery:  rampant development of Ampang Hills disrupt bodies of water resulting in water shortage, flooding, soil erosion, landslides & destruction of remaining green areas in Selangor.

Protect our families & our homes.

 

Please come and support. Call your friends & neighbours too.

Date:     Saturday, 12 April 2008

Time:    10.00 am

Venue:  Taman Hijau, Ukay Heights, Ampang

 

Activities:  Show of solidarity against irresponsible hillslope development 

                  Attendance by representatives from the Selangor State Government

                  Press Conference

                    

Directions: Along Ulu Kelang, at traffic lights junction in front of Flamingo hotel,

turn into Jln Kolam Ayer at Petronas. Drive pass ISKL, turn left into small bridge after the SPCA.

Drive up the hill until you see ‘Taman Hijau’ signboard on the right. Turn in.

saveukayhts@email.com