WHY is it so hard to nail local councils and developers for collapsed buildings and structures? KW Mak unravels the hidden complexities of building laws and how lopsided they are in favour of the authorities.
Bukit Antarabangsa
Slopes made simple
By KW MakDEVELOPMENT projects on hill slopes always draw the ire of residents living in the surrounding area. With the numerous stories of landslides and the lack of access to a developer’s development plans, it is understandable that the public has little tolerance for such development projects. In far too many cases, hill slope development has resulted […]
Keeping secrets over Bukit Antarabangsa
By Ding Jo-Ann“We hope the Bukit Antarabangsa residents will know the truth now that the full report has been released.” Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim announcing that the Public Works Department (JKR)’s investigation report on the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide would be declassified by the Selangor government. The report was released to the Ampang Jaya Municipal […]
Tales from a Councillor: Residents, developers and mechanics
By KW MakPART of my work as a Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor involves mediating disputes between resident groups and various parties. From experience, things are not always what they appear to be. There are no morals to these stories, save those that readers interpret for themselves. (Lamp by Dan Edwards; yin-yang by hisks / sxc.hu) […]
What’s the policy, please?
By KW MakTHE following are my observations on local council matters. The views are entirely my own. They may not reflect the actual policy that a local council would adopt, as policies are determined collectively and not by any one individual. Due process On 9 Oct 2009, The Star reported on a minor landslip in Puchong, supposedly […]
Protecting our slopes
By KW MakDamage caused by the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide of 6 Dec 2008 (Pic courtesy of Raj Kumar) BARELY two months have passed, yet the lesson of the Bukit Antarabangsa hillside disaster is nearly forgotten. Works Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed has declared that projects on hillsides can proceed, with only a ban on the “tip […]
Bar wants royal commission on landslide tragedy
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, […]
Remains are Sri Lankan maid’s: police
KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Dec 2008: Police have confirmed that the remains recovered from the rubble of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide in Hulu Klang near here yesterday were that of the Sri Lankan maid who had been reported missing following the 6 Dec mishap. Ampang Jaya district police chief ACP Abdul Jalil Hassan said today that […]
Decomposed body of missing landslide victim found
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Dec 2008: The body of the fifth victim who perished in the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide, a Sri Lankan, was detected about 50 metres from her employer’s house, the late Dr S Yogeswari, who was also killed in the 6 Dec incident. While confirming the find, Selangor Police Chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar […]
Five areas near landslide declared safe
PETALING JAYA, 20 Dec 2008: Several “red” areas in five housing estates the vicinity of Bukit Antarabangsa landslide have been declared safe for occupation. However, some 1,000 residents are still not allowed to return home for the time being. Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said some areas which had been categorised as “red” […]
