THE Selangor government must ensure all safety requirements are met before any new developmental work, regardless if it is for buildings or a park, can begin at the Highland Towers site where 48 people died 15 years ago, said nearby residents.

Following heavy rains and a landslide, one of three blocks of the Highland Towers condominium collapsed on December 11, 1993.

The entire site has since been abandoned, until newly appointed Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said recently that the government is looking at turning the area into a park.

The idea, while a welcomed alternative to the abandoned buildings, should only proceed after thorough checks on the safety of the area are conducted, said Taman Sri Ukay residents’ association secretary Shila Kasim.

“The remaining buildings have been any eyesore for many years and must be dealt with.

“(But) there are residential areas surrounding the site, so the government must take into account all the (safety) factors,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

Shila said residents will request a meeting with the authorities to get more details on the plan, adding that they remain cautious of any proposal involving developmental work in the area.

“We hope to close this chapter in our lives.”

Safety checks completed

Selangor housing and urban living chairman Haniza Mohd Talha said safety inspections have showed that the area would not be safe for another high-rise, hence the proposal for a park.

“Having a park will lessen the risk of a landslide or any other incident,” she said.

Erecting any other building on the site would just evoke memories of the tragedy, Haniza said.

“Residents there fear any housing development. We don’t want to remind them of the tragedy.

“It’s better to redevelop the area which is a prime land than not do anything.”

Haniza said all safety checks have been completed, leading experts to suggest building a park on the Highland Towers site.

“That’s why they want to turn it into a park rather than have any other development there,” she said, adding that work on the park can begin as early as next year.

Local government expert and lawyer Derek Fernandez hailed the government’s proposal to build a park.

“In the event a park is built, it would be good if it could be dedicated to the brave Malaysians who lost their lives in the tragedy.

“A plaque with their names could be put up so we never forget the terrible price that was paid because of human negligence,” he said. – September 10, 2018.