ZURAIDA Kamaruddin will meet Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari tomorrow to discuss the status of Highland Towers after its demolition was again postponed.

The housing and local government minister said they would discussing how to expedite the matter.

“I will meet him to follow up on the issue.

“We hope to get the state (government) to speed it up,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

Amirudin had said that the acquisition of the site for redevelopment could not be done before year-end as the state government was still going through the relevant documents.

He had said Zuraida’s plans for the towers to be demolished and turned into a park could only take place next year.

“We received the letter (from the ministry) last month and we are working on it as it involves various parties, such as the Land Office and related agencies.

“It will take some time, maybe between three to four months,” he had said.

Last week, Zuraida said that land matters were holding up the scheduled demolition of the two ruined towers.

She had said it was now up to the state government to approve the takeover of land and enable the work to commence.

“I have asked for it to be done latest by the end of 2019. The demolition is under the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council. Hopefully, it will be done.”

Residents of Taman Sri Ukay Hillview in Ampang, Selangor, had questioned when Zuraida would make good on her promise to tear down the apartment blocks and turn the area into a park.

They also hoped that the authorities will brief them on safety and security measures before the blocks are torn down.

The local council will fund the redevelopment, with the developer of Highland Towers pledging to contribute RM2 million.

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, causing a landslide that toppled the block.

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

The site has since been left vacant. – December 15, 2019.