ID :
34682
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 17:49
Auther :

HIGH ANXIETY FOR BUKIT ANTARABANGSA RESIDENTS AS FEAR OF MORE LANDSLIDES MOUNTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- The landslide which occured in Bukit Antarabangsa on Saturday has left its residents in a state of high anxiety.

They fear the area is no longer safe as similar landslides could recur in
the near future.

Standley Jayabalan, a resident of Taman Bukit Jaya, said he was always
worried that landslides would recur, adding that although his house was not in
the danger zone, he did not feel safe.

"I am scared, worried ... after the incident on Saturday, we feel even
more
unsafe. We would like to move out, if possible, but where could we go? We have
already bought this house," said Jayabalan, in his 40s.

He said after the incident, the value of houses in Bukit Antarabangsa had
gone down.

"After the Highland Towers tragedy in 1993, the value of houses here had
dropped, but it increased after some time. However, with this latest incident,
the value of our houses is becoming lesser," he added.

The Highland Towers incident on Dec 11, 1993, claimed 48 lives. On Nov 20,
2002, an incident involving a bungalow in Taman Hillview saw eight dead.
Last Saturday's landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa left four killed.

Another resident of Taman Bukit Jaya, Arif Abdullah, in his 40s, said the
landslide has made him want to move out, a move which was postponed previously.

"It is a strong enough reason for us to move out as we worry about our
safety," he said.

Meanwhile, a resident of Oakleaf Park Condominium, Mohd Nurul Faizin Abdul
Rahim, said any feeling of fear and trauma experienced from the landslide would
have to be pushed aside.

"I forked out my hard-earned savings to buy this house. I wouldn't know
where to rent a house if I had to find another place," he said.

However, he said he would decide otherwise if specialists deemed his
housing
area 'dangerous' to reside.

Another resident of a bungalow in Taman Bukit Mewah, Syed Taha Syed
Mohamed, said his housing area was still safe as it was located on a gentle
slope.

"The authorities should take precautionary action so that the incident will
not happen again," he said, adding that he was grateful his house was not
affected by the landslide.

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