4 theSun | MONDAY DECEMBER 15 2008

news without borders

Residents
not yet able
to remove
belongings
KUALA LUMPUR: The residents of five hous-
ing estates around Taman Bukit Mewah and
Taman Bukit Utama in Bukit Antarabangsa,
which was affected by a landslide on Dec 6,
will not be able to remove their belongings
yet for safety reasons.
Ampang Jaya police chief ACP Abd Jalil
Hasan said yesterday inclement weather dur-
ing the last few days and soil instability did
not permit them to do so.
“However, they can take out important
documents after registering at the Ampang
Jaya Municipal Council’s counter at the site.
They will be given a pass to enable them to
go to their homes for the purpose,” he told a People gather at the playground near the hill despite a warning signboard. Cracks (right) have
press conference. been widening along the jogging path.
As for their other belongings, he said, they

Danger on
would have to wait until Friday, the date the
authorities will declare whether their housing
estates are safe from landslides.
Gombak district officer Huzaily Samsi,
who was present, said the perimeter of
the 14 bungalows flattened in the landslide

would be fenced up soon to prevent any
trespassing.
Yesterday, Bukit Antarabangsa Action
Committee chairman Datuk N. Muneandy
said the residents supported a statement by
Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed
that human factor probably caused the
landslide, that killed four residents.
He said the residents thanked Mohd Zin
for his “rationale statement instead of just
blaming mother nature”.
“We also want to thank him for his
initiative to come and see the mishap site,”
Muneandy said after a meeting with the
residents.
A newspaper had reported Mohd Zin as
saying he believed human factor probably
caused the landslide.
The statement was in contrast to that
by Housing and Local Government Minister
Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, who cited mother
nature and continuous rain as likely reasons
for the landslide.
Muneandy said reports and complaints
from the residents would be compiled and
submitted to Deputy Minister in the Prime
Minister’s Department T. Murugiah today.
Meanwhile, the armed forces and Public
Works Department (PWD) have completed
the construction of a 250m permanent bridge
over a drain to link Jalan Bukit Antarabangsa
and Jalan Bukit Mewah. – Bernama
Commonwealth Hill
CRACKS ON HILLSLOPE WIDENING BUT NO REMEDIAL WORK DONE
by Thomas Yap
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Is a
landslide on Commonwealth
Hill (Bukit Komanwel) in Bukit
Jalil imminent?
To the chagrin of Taman
Bukit Komanwel residents,
Merdeka Stadium Corporation
has put up “beware of landslides”
signboards to warn joggers but
no remedial work is in sight.
“Putting up signboards to
warn us and telling us to avoid
or use the jogging path and its
facilities at our own risk is not
enough or acceptable. They
must repair or stabilise the
hillslopes immediately before a
disaster strikes,” said B.H. Tan,
a civil engineer and a regular
jogger on the hill.
Tan said cracks started to
appear on the hillslopes about
four years ago but “the damage
widened with the recent
constant heavy downpours”.
“What I am worried about
are the children and youths on
the playground below the hill.”
The park, located beside
the steep hillslopes, is usually
crowded with residents and
children during weekends.
Tan said he lodged several
complaints with the local
authorities early this year but no
action was taken until recently
when the warning signboards
appeared.
The signboards warn joggers
and visitors that the corporation
would not be held responsible in
the event of an accident.
“The cracks have been
widening gradually over the
years and the retaining walls
now don’t look secure,” Tan
said.
Pondisamy Sivasamy, a
security guard at the park
for two years, said the
local authorities sent two
investigators to inspect the route
on Tuesday and used tape to
cordon off the entrance of the
staggered hill route.
Regular joggers have ignored
the warning and cordon and
continue to use the route.
International Medical
University student Siow Vei
Shaun, 20, whose campus is
opposite the playground, said he
hardly noticed the cracks but is
aware of the dangers.
“It is better to be safe than
sorry,” he said.
Another regular visitor to the
park said the cracks were only
minor but “I am still concerned
for my safety”.
Merdeka Stadium Corporation
general manager Wan Noor
Azlina said soil tests had been
carried out and “the paths on
the hillslopes are not in a critical
state”.
She said the company was
aware of the cracks and repair
works would be conducted “as
soon as possible in the next two
months as the tender process for
the repairs has been approved”.
However, she advised the
public to heed the warning
signboards and use alternative
routes for their daily jogs as a
precaution and for their safety
“as there is still ample space in
the park”.