LANDSLIDE SITE CLOSED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PWD WARNING

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- The landslide site at Taman Bukit Mewah,
Bukit Antarabangsa here, was closed immediately after the Public Works
Department (PWD) issued a warning that the area was not safe and very dangerous.


Chief police officer of Selangor state, Khalid Abu Bakar, said the warning
was issued at noon Friday.

"Results of a PWD and Public Works Institute of Malaysia (Ikram) study show
that the 10ha site is not safe for people, including for the search and rescue
(SAR) personnel. Its totally prohibited.

"Police have sealed the place and have taken full control of the area and
the Police Air Wing will monitor the area periodically," he told reporters here
Friday.

Khalid said the PWD and Ikram will issue a full report on the safety status
on Dec 19.

However, Khalid said a small teamm comprising SAR personnel from the Fire
and Rescue Services Department and the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and
Rescue Team (Smart) will be stationed there for any eventuality.

He said residents from five areas - Taman Bukit Mewah; Jalan 9 and Jalan
11,
Taman Wangsa Ukay; Jalan 6 Taman Bukit Jaya; and Kondominium Impian Selatan who
were asked to move out could remove their belongings using temporary passes.

Meanwhile, a permanent bridge being built by the PWD will be ready by 6am
Saturday.

Besides that Khalid said works for an alternative route by the army will
begin at midnight Friday until 6am Saturday.

"Also, road repair works and tarring will be done over two days," he said.

Khalid said the main focus now was on the rehabilitation phase and that
till now the police had received 102 complaints by local residents on
destruction and loss of property.
-- BERNAMA