RESIDENTS of Taman Sri Ukay Hillview in Ampang, Selangor, want to know when Zuraida Kamaruddin will make good her promise to demolish Highland Towers and turn the area into a park. 

The housing and local government minister keeps making statements about the demolition but gets nothing done, they said.

Zuraida said that the two condominium blocks, which were abandoned 26 years ago after a landslide disaster, would be demolished in June.

The residents said if the demolition is not going to take place this year, it’s only fair that they are informed about it.

Taman Sri Ukay residents’ association secretary Shila Kasim said the last time they had word about Highland Towers was in June, when Zuraida said it would be torn down.  

“We have been waiting since then but there have been no updates on it. They haven’t reached out to the residents, there have been no updates,” she told The Malaysian Insight. 

Zuraida raised the issue again in September, saying the land on which the towers sit will be acquired by Selangor through the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).

She said the acquisition should be sped up and expressed hope that it will be completed in September

The towers were initially slated for demolition last October but it was postponed to enable the ministry to study on the buildings’ structure.

The Malaysian Insight contacted the Housing and Local Government Ministry but to date, there is no reply from Zuraida or her officials.

Shila said that they are not forcing her hand, but all the residents want is an update on the project.

“It is already the end of the year. We are wondering what’s happening. We are still waiting for further development as per Zuraida’s statements in the press.  

“She also gave a deadline (for demolition). So, we would like to know what’s the ministry actions are on this?”

She added that they would like it to be resolved because of safety and security issues.

“If they can’t do it or if there is a delay, then they should inform the residents here.”

Zuraida had said the site would be redeveloped into a park with a memorial for those who died there.

The redevelopment is to be funded by MPAJ, with RM2 million pledged by the condominium’s developer.

She said the site should not be redeveloped for housing as the soil is unstable.

On December 11, 1993, one of the three blocks of the Highland Towers condominium in Taman Hillview, Ulu Klang, collapsed, killing 48 people and injuring hundreds more.

It was reported that the soil had given way after 10 days of rainfall, which caused a landslide that toppled the block.

Residents in the remaining two blocks were evacuated immediately after the collapse.

The site has been vacant since. – December 4, 2019.