KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will not be issuing any more permits for hillside developments following the landslide tragedy at Bukit Antarabangsa early Saturday morning.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this on Saturday at a press conference after visiting the tragedy site.
He also told developers not to lobby or pressure the Government for any building permits for hillside development projects.
(WHAT, ARE YOU SERIOUS NAJIB? THAT EASY TO PRESSURE THE GOVERNMENT? COULD IT BE THOSE ROCK SOLID EIA REPORTS OR THE SMELL OF MONEY? HOW DOES LOBBYING SUCCEED WHEN PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT STAKE?)He said preventive measures must be taken to avoid hillside tragedies.
At about 4am Saturday, a landslide occurred at Taman Bukit Mewah in Bukit Antarabangsa that buried at least 14 houses and claimed four lives.
YADA YADA YADA...SAME OLE, SAME OLE...WHY DO PEOPLE BUY THESE HOUSES LOCATED ON SLOPES/NEAR SLOPES/SENSITIVE AREAS ANYWAYS? AS LONG AS THERE IS DEMAND, THE GREEDY DEVELOPERS WILL CONTINUE COUNTING THEIR BLOOD MONEY.
I think we heard the same old stop orders like hundreds of times already. I live in the Ampang/Ulu Klang area, and I have seen almost 10 landslides and experienced flashfloods due to hill development.
WILL THE GOVERNMENT EVER TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SHIRKING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE PEOPLE?
NAH.
11 comments:
He told developers not to lobby?! What, the govt can't stand pressure?
Ma'am,
Nothing more to add to your observations save for two things:
1. Why were the networks still transmitting cartoons in the morning? Isn't this breaking news?
2. Why is the Bernama correspondent on-site (6.30 pm transmission) clueless?
I've put up a Google map for those who want to know where the place is. Maybe you can pinpoint the houses involved.
Salam MT,
They say this whole area is so cooling that morning mists lingers close to the ground every morning; its so romantic - developer's sale brochure on getting approval for a hill side development.
10years down the line when every single tree in the area has been chopped down leaving nothing but concrete jungle, the public complain "Why so hot here now? I still remember this area soooo beautiful and cooling. Now, everywhere I look there nothing but high concrete walls".
Both, are to be blamed. But mainly, the authority for not having the foresight. Then again, with the present government, when did they ever have? Curses on you Be End. You are the worse nightmare Malaysians have ever experience.
Michelle, my sentiments exactly...just shows who the govt is for.
Tuan Tabib,
No news is always good news, just like the economy,no? I'm not really sure which ones, but I know that the houses along the main road leading into the area are on precarious slopes...tak berani nak masuk coz the whole area looks so wobbly.
Shah,
Bukan authorities tak de foresight, tapi bak kata Najib...he/they cannot resist the "sweet" lobbying...lobbying here in Malaysia means MONEY.
I just dont understand whats so enchanting about houses built on hillslopes?No matter how strong the soil is why are they so popular;these koala hugging style of housing?
If you look opposite CIMB investment bank,there's a hotel hugging the side of the hill.I know it looks so stable but through time,how stable ye?Guranteed safe for how long?And opposite the Bangsar Shopping Centre pun gitu.Whats the thrill?Developers are all daily bungee jumping addicts ke sampai suka buat rumah yang so precariously located!
mamasita,
As long as they are not staying there and as long as there is a market, and as long as the regulations and laws are so lax and "pliable", the body count will continue.
The Puncak Setiawangsa hill sends shivers up my spine when it rains...the water just gushes down macam waterfall and I have a real bad feeling each time I pass it. Not matter how you reinforce the hillside with concrete, how would you stop soil movements deep inside?
This incident happend just accross the hill from where i live in .
Residents of this area have been lobbying hard to cancel the development of a certain hill here. I hope this incident will bring us more support for our cause.
If its true that hillside developments are cancelled, I will be very relieved
this is too close to home for me.
:(
hahaha
typical of leader..
Dah tergodok baru terngadah...hahahhaha
tahun sudah kes highland towers, 2 bangunannya tumbang menyembah bumi...hangat di arus perdana...
lepas diam, buat lagi angkara!
sekarang runtuh lagi!
Lepas nie kambing mana pula nak dijadikan mangsa?!
hahhhaha
Hi Tehsin,
I am trying to comprehend the cause. Just my thoughts. The houses there have been around for many years right? At least 10, I read. The hill slope is populated with trees and vegetation. I think I may be correct to say that on the face of it, the developers have built the houses to a required standard, with no immediate complaints. Then how come now, after so many years, did the land slip? Excess rainfall? Perhaps. But the waterlogging of the soil beneath must be caused by something.
I postulate that it was caused by many factors, most notably, the authorities, land survey dept, water dept, etc (whoever is monitoring these areas) of the hutan, ( I don't directly blame the developers only), have not foreseen this, thinking that just having vegetation on slopes suffice, its also the rising of the water table.
There may have been drain holes required in the hill slope, and these may have been blocked or poorly maintained. All these will come out in any post-investigation.
All parties must listen to experts in the field and constructively work out the best course for the remaining houses in the area.
I fear that the same old Malaysian problem of 'tidak apa' mentality will surface,.. poor maintenance of public properties, follow ups, etc is very poor.
Just taking the LRT a few weeks ago, I was surprised to notice so many ticket machines are 'rosak', entry barriers not working, cracked pavement tiles,poor lighting and signage, etc. The feeling I get when entering a local LRT station is desperation, lack of pride.
Walking around Central Market area, traffic light posts have bare wires sticking out, soon enough some child will be electrocuted. Pavement stones have huge holes and are unsafe and most time uneven, new roads have potholes the size of televisions(!)
Enough is enough! Someone said that recently. I cannot think where the rakyat's tax money has gone to? Why is it so hard to provide effective maintenance by public authorities. Rubbish collection is poor, this is a health hazard also.
It feels like we like brand new shiny objects, once its built, no one bothers to maintain it. Except KLCC.
Is it a lack of pride, motivation or qualified people, managers,,etc whatever I feel that KL is a tired out city, needing urgent rejuvenation.
Rant over.
Hey Steven,
Above the houses exist the original development, one of the earliest in BKT Antarabangsa. And midway, there is a seemingly abandoned project. so the area is not untouched.
Furthermore, our developers are not particular about maintaining the area after pocketing the dough. Dah beli, cabut.
The Ampang highlands are actually water catchment areas, and bkt anatrabangsa should not have been developed. You remove the trees, the the runoff is not absorbed peoperly and the soil is affected, leading to landslides. natural occurences of landslides are also unavoidable, but in this case, human intervention ie development helped create the disaster.
Money buys approval as we can see. Something is severely wrong with the councils and the ministries in charge. No public office holder has ever been held accountable for the loss of lives, especially those responsible for approval, and so you can bet, this will go on.
And yes, maintenance is severely lacking. The departments, councils, officers in charge lack professionalism and commitment.
The leadership and lawmakers are just too apathetic and complacent.
It is part of the Malaysian culture, don't you think?
Striving for excellence is something foreign to us.
I have seen even the garbage collectors overseas in europe and the US performing their duties with such dedication.
Over here, they create more mess as they collect.Why? Because the gomen department/councils that contract them do not impose stringent standards. It is usually a case of "kasi kawan" contract.
Tak ade kesungguhan berkhidmat sebab tak de awareness of how it will all affect everyone within the bigger picture.
BTW, you are right.
It is all those. Lack of pride,lack of qualification. Just a general lack of standards.
We need a really strong leader. And a dedicated, clean, efficient gomen.
Post a Comment