DEAD: OUR NEIGHBORHOOD VET, DR YOGESWARY, A LOVELY, GENTLE, LADY WHO ATTENDED TO MY KIDS' CATS
''Saya diberitahu Bukit Antarabangsa merupakan kawasan tadahan air dan sebarang pembangunan tidak sepatutnya diadakan di sini."
''Kalau pihak pemaju mahukan keuntungan melalui projek di lereng bukit, ia akan menyebabkan kerugian pada kemudian hari," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas melawat lokasi tanah runtuh di Bukit Antarabangsa di sini hari ini."
(Pak Lah, Utusan Malaysia Dis 7, 2008)
He (Najib) also told developers not to lobby or pressure the Government for any building permits for hillside development projects.
(Najib, The Star 6 December, 2008)
Dr Gue See Sew, a geo-technical engineer:
"We can learn from Hong Kong's comprehensive Slope Safety System.
"They even have an inventory of hill slopes. It allows the authorities to systematically screen all of them.
"If there is a slope found to be substandard, the land owner will receive a Dangerous Hillside Order."
After receiving the order, Gue said, the owner may be required to carry out investigation work and, if necessary, upgrading work on the slope.
"Should he or she refuse to do so, the authorities will do it for them but the owner will still bear the cost. Otherwise, a caveat will be lodged on the property.
It was reported that by 2000, the risk of landslides from old man-made slopes in Hong Kong had been reduced to less than 50 per cent, compared with the number in 1977. And, by 2010, the risk will be further reduced by another 50 per cent."
4 comments:
That was indeed a tragedy with future repercussions. Condolences to the family of Dr Yogeswaren and the other families and person killed.
Sad thing is, it's going to happen again, Steven.
How many times have we seen this in the same area? And yet in less than a year later, we will have additional hillside bungalows and condos built within the same vicinity of the Highland Towers.
We need stronger political will and an end to "lobbying" Malsyian style and more powers to the local councils/stringent EIA reports and transparency. How can a designated water catchment area be so relentlessly developed over the years without any action?
I don't get this telling people to not lobby. Huh? The 'lobbied' cannot say 'no', ke?
This is a metaphor for what is happening here - the very ground we stand on is slipping from under out feet!
Pat
Hey Pat,
Seems like he gave himself/the office bearers away there eh?
Maybe there are big carrots from the lobbyists?
Maybe we should set up a lobby group for cleaner and more efficient and transparent governance, and more commitment towards upholding the laws?
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