ID :
34277
Sat, 12/06/2008 - 20:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/34277
The shortlink copeid
NAJIB: NO MORE GOVT APPROVAL FOR RISKY HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government will not allow any
development in hilly areas at risk of landslides to avert a recurrence of the
mishaps, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Saturday.
As such, he said, developers should not lobby the government for approval
for projects in these areas.
"I believe there is no reason to carry out development on hill slopes at
risk of landslides. It is better to take preventive measures to avert possible
disasters.
"We have to learn from what has happened Saturday," he said during a visit
to look at the landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa, Hulu Klang, near here. He was
accompanied by his wife, Rosmah Mansor.
Bukit Antarabangsa is a famous hillside township in Ulu Klang, a popular
residential area, in sSelangor, Malaysia. It is dubbed the Beverly Hills of
Malaysia because many famous Malaysian celebrities and artistes live here.
Najib said there was no stopping developers from sending in their
applications for hillslope projects once the stir over the landslide has eased.
"Human beings have a short memory. In three or six months, people would
have
forgotten (what happened) and the developers will lobby for their applications
to be approved. They do not learn from what has happened," he said.
Police have confirmed that three people were killed in the landslide which
buried 14 bungalows in Taman Bukit Mewah and Taman Bukit Utama in the Bukit
Antarabangsa area.
A section of the hillslope collapsed and buried the bungalows at about 4 am
when most of the residents were fast asleep.
Najib warned developers not to pressure the government for approvals or to
regard the government's action as harsh.
However, he said the government should not be blamed if any area where
development was not allowed in the first place was later found to be risk-free.
"We have to take a decision if an area is regarded to be at high risk. If
the people cannot accept (the government's decision), those living in these
areas will have to accept the fact that they may be exposed to danger," he said.
On the landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa, Najib said experts would be
appointed to examine the high-risk area which has seen two major landslides so
far. The Highlands Tower collapse had occurred in 1993 just 1.5km from the site
of today's landslide.
Najib expressed satisfaction with the swift action of the security
forces.
He said the rescue operation had to be conducted with caution as the
area
was still unstable.
He also said that the government had taken the precautionary measure of
evacuating more than 2,000 occupants of from one block of condominiums located
close to the disaster area.
-- BERNAMA
development in hilly areas at risk of landslides to avert a recurrence of the
mishaps, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Saturday.
As such, he said, developers should not lobby the government for approval
for projects in these areas.
"I believe there is no reason to carry out development on hill slopes at
risk of landslides. It is better to take preventive measures to avert possible
disasters.
"We have to learn from what has happened Saturday," he said during a visit
to look at the landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa, Hulu Klang, near here. He was
accompanied by his wife, Rosmah Mansor.
Bukit Antarabangsa is a famous hillside township in Ulu Klang, a popular
residential area, in sSelangor, Malaysia. It is dubbed the Beverly Hills of
Malaysia because many famous Malaysian celebrities and artistes live here.
Najib said there was no stopping developers from sending in their
applications for hillslope projects once the stir over the landslide has eased.
"Human beings have a short memory. In three or six months, people would
have
forgotten (what happened) and the developers will lobby for their applications
to be approved. They do not learn from what has happened," he said.
Police have confirmed that three people were killed in the landslide which
buried 14 bungalows in Taman Bukit Mewah and Taman Bukit Utama in the Bukit
Antarabangsa area.
A section of the hillslope collapsed and buried the bungalows at about 4 am
when most of the residents were fast asleep.
Najib warned developers not to pressure the government for approvals or to
regard the government's action as harsh.
However, he said the government should not be blamed if any area where
development was not allowed in the first place was later found to be risk-free.
"We have to take a decision if an area is regarded to be at high risk. If
the people cannot accept (the government's decision), those living in these
areas will have to accept the fact that they may be exposed to danger," he said.
On the landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa, Najib said experts would be
appointed to examine the high-risk area which has seen two major landslides so
far. The Highlands Tower collapse had occurred in 1993 just 1.5km from the site
of today's landslide.
Najib expressed satisfaction with the swift action of the security
forces.
He said the rescue operation had to be conducted with caution as the
area
was still unstable.
He also said that the government had taken the precautionary measure of
evacuating more than 2,000 occupants of from one block of condominiums located
close to the disaster area.
-- BERNAMA
