NO CLEAR PROOF OF HUMAN NEGLIGENCE

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- There is no clear proof that human negligence was the cause of the landslide in Bukit Antarabanga, Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Chuan said.

He said that natural factors could be the reason as it had been raining
prior to the incident.

"If it was due to human negligence, the landslide would have happened very
much earlier. But it has already been 15 years since the completion of the
housing projects," he told reporters after visiting the landslide area
Wednesday.

He said that officers from local authorities, Public Works Department and
agencies under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry would meet later
today to find out the actual cause of the landslide.

"We need to come up with accurate findings so that we can prevent similar
incident from recurring," he said.

Four people were killed and 14 bungalow houses at Taman Bukit Utama and
Taman Bukit Mewah were destroyed in the incident.

The search for a Sri Lankan maid, believed to be buried under the rubble,
was still ongoing as of noon.

Ong also said that the state and local governments should carry out a
review
on all projects which had been approved for implementation in Bukit Antarabangsa
as the place was a high-risk area.

"As the area is densely populated, new developments should no longer be
carried out," he said.

Ong also said that the findings of the national slope master plan study
would be made a benchmark for hillslope development in the country.

-- BERNAMA