THE abandoned Highland Towers condominium in Ampang will finally be torn down in June and a memorial park raised in its place for the 48 people who died in the tragedy more than 25 years ago.

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said approval has been granted for the demolition of the remaining two blocks of the condominium, after it was postponed in October last year.

“The government was trying to resolve one remaining issue ahead of the scheduled demolition, which is the compensation claims of 15 former residents,” said Zuraida.

“The 15 owners had approached us to check if they had any claims to compensation.

“They don’t qualify for any claim because of the six-years limitation law. (But) we will continue to engage with them.”

The demolition and cleaning up, followed by the construction of the memorial, will be funded by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, she said, adding that the developer of Highland Towers has pledged RM2 million for the work.

“Once it’s done, we will clean up the place and carry out landscaping works,” she said.

Zuraida said the area is not suitable for high density residential development.

“We initially proposed to build affordable homes because the land was big enough.

“But the geo-physical factors of the area will not sustain a high-rise building. So, we will get MPAJ to take over and manage the land.”

Last August, Zuraida proposed that the Highland Towers area be redeveloped into a recreational park as the soil in the area was not suitable for housing.

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. – May 1, 2019.