M'SIA: BE PREPARED FOR MORE LANDSLIDES

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- The authorities should be on alert to take
remedial measures as more landslides are expected during this rainy season, an
environmentalist cautioned Saturday.

Centre for Environment, Technology and Development chairman Gurmit Singh
told bernama that landslides were common occurrences in Malaysia and most of
them could easily be avoided if professionals, developers and civil servants
were responsible enough to carry out their duties with care and
diligence.

He was commenting on the massive landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa today
which
has so far claimed three lives.

He said that following the collapse of the Highlands Towers in the vicinity

in 1993, which took 48 lives, the authorities had decided not to approve
anymore hill slope development.

He said that unless all those involved in the development, including the
approving authorities, engineers, architects, surveyors and developers, took
their responsibilities seriously, such incidents would continue
to occur.


Meanwhile, president of the Bukit Bandaraya Houseowners Association
Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said the Damansara area was also prone to
landslides.

The latest incident was on Thursday when the retaining wall behind the CIMB
Commerce Square and the CIMB Amanah building building in Damansara collapsed
following a landslide which buried 11 vehicles at the parking lot.

Abdul Aziz, a practicing lawyer and former managing director of
national carrier MAS, said his association had alerted the City Hall on the
water seepage in the area but no immediate action was taken.

-- BERNAMA