KUALA LUMPUR, 10 Nov 2008: The Dewan Rakyat today uncharacteristically accepted an opposition motion – to debate the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide.
Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia accepted the motion which was tabled by Mohamed Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) as per Standing Rule 18(1).
“The issue meets the specific requirement, that it is of public interest and urgent. So the motion will be debated from 4.30pm till 5.30pm,” said Pandikar Amin.
Mohamed Azmin, when tabling the motion, said the government should take the views of specialists seriously, and ensure, through enforcement, that private land owners maintain their slopes.
“I welcome the statement by the Prime Minister and the Selangor Menteri Besar
to not approve development of hillsides. But statements like that have often been heard and disasters still strike due to those who are greedy and corrupt.
“In the latest tragedy, the previous Selangor government must be fully responsible. The Parliament is the best arena to debate this important issue so that there is no recurrence,” said Mohamed Azmin.
In the 6 Dec Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy, four people died and 14 bungalows in Taman Bukit Mewah and Taman Bukit Utama were destroyed. Many residents have also been forced to move due to the unstable environment. — Bernama
