KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Feb 2009: Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan today called for the setting up of a Royal Commision of Inquiry to investigate the Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy.
She said the Bar Council’s Task Force on Bukit Antarabangsa had identified the causes of the landslide tragedy, including the lack of competent expertise in design, maintenance and communication during the construction process.
The 4am landslide on 6 Dec 2008 which destroyed 14 bungalows in Taman Bukit Mewah, Bukit Antarabangsa, also claimed four lives.
Ambiga, in a press statement, also called for:
- the immediate discontinuation of all on-going hillside development projects that do not meet the minimum requirements of safety and/or have not complied with the applicable laws, regulations and guidelines. As a precautionary measure, all hillside development on gradients exceeding 25 degrees should be banned until proper laws are passed.
- The immediate safety review of all existing hillside development; and
- The immediate review of the legal framework and existing legislation on hillside development.
Meanwhile, Bukit Antarabangsa residents affected by the landslide tragedy are advised file in their applications for special assistance by the end of this month.
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council public relations officer Norhayati Ahmad in a statement here today, said 93 families were eligible for the aid but only 72 had submitted their applications.
“The families yet do so have until the end of this month. Applicants must come personally to MPAJ’s headquarters at Menara MPAJ here to file in their applications,” she said.
Norhayati also said MPAJ was continuing to monitor earth movement at the area and advised affected residents to wait for MPAJ approval to move back to their homes. — Bernama
