Majority of BA residents can go home
(excerpt from the press)
Dec 19, 08 1:42 pm
The majority of residents in the landslide-hit area of Bukit Antarabangsa will be allowed to return to their houses.Revealing this today, Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said the decision was based on the preliminary findings of the Public Works Institute of Malaysia and the Public Works Department (PWD) following the landslide tragedy on Dec 6, which killed four people and destroyed 14 houses.
According to the Star, the report was handed to Khalid about 12.45pm this afternoon. However, the menteri besar said he has yet to read the report in full, but clarified that most of the residents in the five affected areas would be able to return to their houses.
"The Gombak district officer and MPAJ president will now study the report in full. I will make an announcement on Sunday at the site of the landslide," he was quoted as saying.
Some 3,000 Bukit Antarabangsa residents had been waiting cautiously for the report as it would determine whether they would have to abandon their houses.Unsafe houses to be declared tomorrow Meanwhile, the Star also reported that the Gombak district officer and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) president will go to the landslide site tomorrow to identify the houses which are unsafe.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that PWD had decided not to submit its report to the state government.
Abdul Khalid had said that PWD had previously agreed to provide the report to the state government to allow him to make an announcement on the status of the housing areas.
"But PWD informed today that it will not be providing the report. This is puzzling and regrettable as it would make it difficult for the state to make a decision on behalf the victims," he said.
He said PWD's action in ignoring the state government would only be detrimental to the victims.
According to sources, the department did not provide a detailed explanation on its refusal apart from stating that "there were too many implications" if the report is handed to Abdul Khalid.
According to the Star, the report was handed to Khalid about 12.45pm this afternoon. However, the menteri besar said he has yet to read the report in full, but clarified that most of the residents in the five affected areas would be able to return to their houses.
"The Gombak district officer and MPAJ president will now study the report in full. I will make an announcement on Sunday at the site of the landslide," he was quoted as saying.
Some 3,000 Bukit Antarabangsa residents had been waiting cautiously for the report as it would determine whether they would have to abandon their houses.Unsafe houses to be declared tomorrow Meanwhile, the Star also reported that the Gombak district officer and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) president will go to the landslide site tomorrow to identify the houses which are unsafe.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that PWD had decided not to submit its report to the state government.
Abdul Khalid had said that PWD had previously agreed to provide the report to the state government to allow him to make an announcement on the status of the housing areas.
"But PWD informed today that it will not be providing the report. This is puzzling and regrettable as it would make it difficult for the state to make a decision on behalf the victims," he said.
He said PWD's action in ignoring the state government would only be detrimental to the victims.
According to sources, the department did not provide a detailed explanation on its refusal apart from stating that "there were too many implications" if the report is handed to Abdul Khalid.
