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Highland Towers Collapse
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1994
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1. Highland Towers hearing postponed NST 15/10/1994
   SHAH ALAM, Fri. - The High Court has postponed to Nov 28 and 29 the hearing of an application by the Highland Towers Residents and Owners Committee to quash notices issued by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (AJMC) ordering the repair or demolition of Blocks 2 and 3 of the Highland Towers. The application which was supposed to have been heard today before Justice K.C. Vohrah was postponed in chambers as the judge was indisposed.

2. Enam penghuni Highland Towers tuntut RM1.6j BM 16/10/1994
   KUALA LUMPUR: Enam penghuni Blok Satu Pangsapuri Highland Towers, Hulu Klang mengemukakan saman menuntut ganti rugi khas lebih RM1.6 juta terhadap pemaju Highland Properties Sdn Bhd dan lapan yang lain, kerana mengalami kerugian harta benda, November tahun lalu. Saman itu yang dikemukakan menerusi firma guaman, Tetuan Skrine & Co difailkan di pejabat Pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi di Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, pagi semalam.

3. Highland Towers victims file suit SUM 16/10/1994
   FAMILIES of victims and owners of the collapsed Highland Towers condominium filed a suit in the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday alleging negligence and breach of statutory duty. The plaintiffs - five Highland Towers residents and the father of three children killed in the tragedy - are seeking damages, special damages, exemplary and aggravated damages, interest and costs.

4. Highland Towers developer sued NSUNT 16/10/1994 By Ruslaini Abbas
   KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - Six victims and kin of those affected by the collapsed Block 1 of Highland Towers condominium today filed a suit at the High Court against developer Highland Properties Sdn Bhd and eight others, seeking RM1.6 million in special damages. The suit was filed by representatives of legal firm Skrine & Co at 10.20am at the court registry at Sultan Abdul Samad building in Jalan Raja. No hearing date has been fixed.

5. Tugas penyelamat dihargai BH 18/10/1994
   BAKTI ... Tiga belas anggota Pertahanan Awam Johor Bahru (gambar) bangga menerima sijil penghargaan masing-masing kerana menyertai pasukan penyelamat tragedi kondominium Highland Towers di Hulu Klang, akhir tahun lalu. Anggota itu yang diketuai Leftenan Pertahanan Awam Abu Bakar Mohamad (tengah) menerima sijil masing-masing daripada Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Malaysia, Selamat Dahlan, sempena lawatan rasminya ke pejabat pasukan itu di Tampoi, Johor Bahru, kelmarin.

6. Policy on highrises in residential areas needed NST 19/10/1994 By Jacob George
   NEITHER the Highland Towers tragedy nor New Straits Times expose of the indiscriminate destruction of our environment with its limited resources in the name of "development" or the thick threatening haze above us has slowed the building of condominiums and highrise buildings at breakneck speed. Vacant land on hill slopes, highland areas and around densely populated housing estates are being developed for condominium and other highrise buildings.

7. RM15j untuk baiki Highland Towers BH 19/11/1994
   KUALA LUMPUR, Jumaat - Persatuan Penduduk/Pemilik Highland Towers (PPHT) memerlukan di antara RM10 juta dan RM15 juta untuk meningkatkan tahap keselamatan dua blok pangsapuri berhampiran blok yang runtuh pada 11 Disember tahun lalu. Jumlah itu diperolehi hasil kajian Jawatankuasa Kecil Struktur dan Teknikal yang diwujudkan oleh PPHT, ke atas laporan lengkap tragedi itu oleh Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ).

8. Perhimpunan khas peringati tragedi BH 19/11/1994
   KUALA LUMPUR, Jumaat - Satu perhimpunan bagi memperingati tragedi Highland Towers, akan diadakan pada 11 Disember ini jam 1.30 tengah hari, masa dan hari yang sama sebuah daripada tiga blok pangsapuri di situ runtuh dan mengorbankan 48 nyawa, tahun lalu. Presiden Persatuan Penduduk/Pemilik Highland Towers (PPHT), Dr Benjamin George, berkata PPHT mengalu-alukan kedatangan orang ramai.

9. Locals sought to make search device NST 19/11/1994 By M. Jeffri Razali
   KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. - A Russian research and development organisation is offering Malaysian companies the technology to produce here a device to locate victims trapped under collapsed structures. The Moscow-based Russian Intersectoral Science and Technology Complex is offering a bio-radar device developed by its scientists and engineers since 1990 with the prototype model undergoing tests now.

10. Field day for thieves at Highland Towers NSUNT 20/11/1994  By Vijesh Rai
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - Thieves have broken into the Highland Towers condominium Blocks Two and Three, abandoned since the collapse of Block One on Dec 11 last year, despite the move by residents and owners to instal extra locks at the entrances. A contractor at the site conducting soil tests claimed that police arrested two men with two bags full of stolen items from the condominiums last week.

11. Kes Highland Towers didengar 28 Mac BH 29/11/1994
    SHAH ALAM, Isnin - Mahkamah Tinggi di sini, hari ini, menetapkan tarikh 28 Mac 1995 untuk mendengar semula permohonan Jawatankuasa Penduduk Highland Towers yang meminta mahkamah membatalkan notis Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) supaya mereka membaiki atau merobohkan Blok 2 dan 3 Highland Towers dalam tempoh tiga bulan. Hakim Datuk Faiza Tamby Cik memerintahkan demikian bagi membolehkan semua pihak iaitu Jawatankuasa Penduduk Highland Towers; pemaju, Highland Properties Sdn Bhd dan MPAJ mengadakan perbincangan lanjut.

12. Highland Towers parties to meet hillslope owner NST 29/11/1994 By Annie Freeda Cruez
    SHAH ALAM, Mon. - The High Court here today postponed to March 28 next year the hearing of an application by the Highland Towers Residents and Owners Committee to quash notices issued by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (AJMC) ordering the repair or demolition of Blocks 2 and 3 of the Highland Towers in Hulu Kelang. Justice Datuk Faiza Tamby Cik postponed the hearing after the counsel for the committee, developer Highland Properties Sdn Bhd and AJMC, agreed unanimously to the adjournment in efforts to hold dialogues with Arab Malaysia Finance, the owner of the hillslope near the blocks.

13. Hit by `highland' silt MM 02/12/1994
    THE Highland Towers collapse is having an impact of a different kind on nearby Taman Hillview almost a year after the tragedy. Earth from the exposed ground where Block A of the apartment once stood until it collapsed on Dec 11 last year has been washed down to the housing estate, covering its roads and clogging the drains with silt.

14. 48 nyawa bayaran penubuhan BM 11/12/1994 Smart By Ismail Mat
    TRAGEDI Highland Towers yang genap setahun hari ini, menyaksikan lebih 500 anggota penyelamat dari dalam dan luar negara menyertai operasi mencari dan menyelamat mangsa yang terperangkap dalam runtuhan bangunan 12 tingkat itu. Namun, selepas lebih seminggu berusaha, anggota penyelamat Jabatan Perkhidmatan Bomba, Polis, Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, Persatuan Bulan Sabit Malaysia (PBSM), Pertahanan Awam, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) serta pasukan lain dengan bantuan pasukan penyelamat Singapura, Jepun dan Perancis, gagal menemui mangsa yang masih hidup dan dikatakan terperangkap di bawah runtuhan itu.

15. Tragedi Highland Towers dalam kenangan BM 11/12/1994
    TEPAT jam 1.40 tengah hari pada 11 Disember 1993, Blok A Pangsapuri Highland Towers di Hulu Kelang rebah menyembah bumi dan mengorbankan 48 nyawa. Tragedi itu dianggap antara yang paling dahsyat di negara ini. Tragedi itu sungguh menyedihkan. Mereka yang tidak mempunyai kenalan turut bersedih mengenangkan nasib mereka yang kehilangan anggota keluarga. Namun berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu yang memikul. Segalanya sudah takdir.

16. Developers seem to have stayed away from hill slopes SUM 11/12/1994
    IN the aftermath of the Highland Towers tragedy, it was natural for developers to shy away from constructing new buildings, particularly on slopes, former minning land or rubbish dumpsites. Several local authorities noted this trend as they received no new proposals for projects on such sites.

17. Rumours of ghosts screaming are false: Residents SUM 11/12/1994
    THE shadow of the Highland Towers tragedy looms large on nearby residents. But for Datuk Dr Mohinder Singh, whose bungalow was used by the authorities during the aftermath of the collapse, life goes on. "We have put the incident behind us," he said. "But there are constant reminders each time I reach Hulu Klang where the building can be seen."

18. Impact on building industry SUM 11/12/1994
    TO the engineering fraternity, Highland Towers was a watershed tragedy that revealed the weaknesses in the construction industry. Engineers interviewed agreed the tragedy was a harsh reminder that local authorities must tighten supervision of construction projects, particularly high-rise buildings.

19. Remembering that tragic day SUM 11/12/1994 All reports on "The Highland Tragedy - First anniversary" by Freddie Ng; Yushaimi Yahaya; V. Vasudevan; Kamalia Abdullah; Errol Oh
    TODAY, Dec 11, is the first anniversary of the collapse of Highland Towers Block A, a terrible human tragedy that shook up the nation. Ghosts of victims, it is wildly exaggerated, now haunt the site in Hulu Klang, Selangor, while visitors and residents feel a chill whenever they are nearby.

20. Tears and pain of those left behind SUM 11/12/1994
    "TEARFUL separations make love beautiful ..." Korean architect and engineer Bakh Young Il poignantly reflected on the loss of his wife and daughter in the Highland Towers tragedy. Bakh's eyes fill with tears at the mention of his beloved wife, Bakh Yun Jung Sook, and 17-year-old daughter, Hee Won.

21. Chronology of events: NSUNT 11/12/1994
    Dec 11, 1993: * The 12-storey Block One Highland Towers hillslope apartments in Taman Hillview, Hulu Klang, Selangor, collapsed at 1.30pm burying scores of people under tonnes of concrete and steel.

22. Too shocking and horrifying to forget NSUNT 11/12/1994
    WHILE many would want to bask in the glory and praise of being the man who effectively ran the multi-agency rescue efforts, Datuk Ghazali Yaacob, the police Internal Security and Public Order director, would rather avoid remembering the Highland Towers building collapse in Hulu Klang, Selangor, a year ago. After much persistence and persuasion, Ghazali, finally relented to an interview with the New Sunday Times at his office at the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur.

23. Turning barren lands into green NSUNT 11/12/1994  By K.P. Waran
    LANDSCAPING has gai ned more importance in recent years not only because of the need to create greenery in the ever-expanding concrete jungle in major towns, but also as a security feature to minimise soil erosion which, when unchecked, has caused catastrophic results. Insufficient steps to prevent soil erosion have been identified as one of the contributing factors in the collapse of Highland Towers one year ago today which claimed 48 lives.

24. Rescue team to operate next year NSUNT 11/12/1994 By Tony Emmanuel
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - On the eve of the first anniversary of the Highland Towers condominium tragedy, the National Security Council announced that Malaysia's elite rescue squad, the Special Malaysian Assistance Rescue Team (SMART), is being set up and will be operational by next year. Its chief, Senior Assistant Commissioner (II) Mohamad Noor Hamat of the NSC, said SMART teams would spearhead rescue operations in major disasters locally and offer their assistance overseas.

25. A fireman's recollections of that fateful day, last Dec 11 NSUNT 11/12/1994
    THE building was still vibrating when firemen arrived at the scene. Several cars at the hill slope behind the collapsed building were still moving, posing danger to rescuers below. "My main concern was the safety of those trapped in the collapsed building and that of my men who were searching for victims.

26. Panel to probe what went wrong NSUNT 11/12/1994
    FOLLOWING the Highland Towers condominium collapse on Dec 11 last year, the Government announced the setting up of a Special Cabinet Committee on Dec 13 to investigate the cause of the incident and handle matters pertaining to it. The committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was formed to recommend corrective measures to be taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

27. What triggered the collapse NSUNT 11/12/1994
    INVESTIGATIONS revealed that retrogressive landslides that occurred behind Block 1 (the apartment block that collapsed) triggered the collapse. Simulation tests showed that pressure induced the slides. There were four retrogressive slides. The first slide occurred from the two terraces above the second-level carpark and went through the first- level carpark.

28. Six residents sue the builder, eight others NSUNT 11/12/1994
    SIX residents filed a suit in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 15 this year against the developer of the Highland Towers apartment block and eight others for alleged negligence. Among them is businessman Phang Ah Heng, 58, who lost his wife, Ivy Lee Ai Bee, 57, his mother, Cheng Kim Tai, 83, and his youngest son, Fergus Phang Thien Liang, 26.

29. Painful memories of lost loved ones NSUNT 11/12/1994  All reports "The Highland Towers Tragedy: One Year Later" by R.V. Veera; Tony Emmanuel; Adrian David; Sufi Yusoff; M. Jeffri Razali; Vijesh Rai
    IT is exactly a year since the collapse of Block One of the Highland Towers condominium in Hulu Klang, Selangor. Although 500 people took part in the rescue efforts, and laboured day and night, police had to call off the search 12 days later, leaving a death toll of 48 people. There were two survivors.

30. Malaysians earned praise for exemplary services NSUNT 11/12/1994
    FOLLOWING the Highland Towers tragedy, Malaysians earned high respect from all quarters, including the foreign Press, for their hospitality and exemplary service in handling emergencies. In the case of Highland Towers, individuals, hoteliers, companies and Malaysians from all walks of life rallied to help in search and rescue operations in one way or another.

31. Barang RM2 juta diserah kepada waris BH 12/12/1994
    KUALA LUMPUR, Ahad - Hampir semua barang berharga bernilai lebih RM2 juta yang dijumpai sepanjang operasi mencari dan menyelamat tragedi Highland Towers pada Disember tahun lalu, sudah dikembalikan kepada pemiliknya.

32. Mangsa runtuhan Highland Towers dikenang BH 12/12/1994
    KUALA LUMPUR, Ahad - Suasana sedih menyelubungi sekitar tapak pangsapuri Highland Towers yang tumbang pada 11 Disember tahun lalu, apabila keluarga serta sanak saudara 48 mangsa tragedi itu berkumpul bagi memperingati genap setahun peristiwa itu. Selain itu, kira-kira 300 orang lagi terdiri daripada rakan mangsa, anggota polis serta wakil pertubuhan beruniform yang terbabit dalam operasi menyelamat serta wakil media massa menghadiri upacara itu.

33. Investigations into Highland Towers tragedy continue BT 12/12/1994
    ONE year has passed since the 12-storey Highland Tower condominum collapsed at Hulu Klang, Kuala Lumpur killing 48 people and investigations into how the tragedy occurred are still continuing. Hulu Langat OCPD, ACP Yaacob Ismail said yesterday Selangor Police are continuing with their investigations.

34. Laporan sebelum akhir bulan HM 12/12/1994
    KUALA LUMPUR: Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Penduduk Highland Towers, Dr Benjamin George berkata, hasil laporan teknikal mengenai punca keruntuhan kondominium yang dijalankan oleh jawatankuasa khas teknikal penduduk Highland Towers dijangka diumumkan sebelum akhir tahun ini.

35. Polis terus siasat tragedi HM 12/12/1994
    KUALA LUMPUR: Polis terus menjalankan siasatan terhadap tragedi runtuhan kondomium 12 tingkat Highland Towers di Hulu Klang di sini, walaupun sudah setahun kejadian berlaku. Ketua Polis Daerah Hulu Langat (Kajang/Ampang), Penolong Pesuruhjaya Yaacob Ismail, berkata siasatan mengenai kejadian itu diteruskan oleh Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Selangor.

36. Remembering the 48 victims MM 12/12/1994 By Eddie Chua
    IT was a tearful gathering for former residents of Highland Towers Block A to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy next to the site where the building collapsed. Tears flowed from the eyes of many who lost homes, close friends, wives and children as the simple memorial service took off.

37. Families, friends pay tribute to their loved ones NST 12/12/1994
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - Forty-eight people lost their lives exactly a year ago today, but their loved ones have not forgotten them, and in tribute, a memorial plaque and a photo montage were erected on what was once Block One of the Highland Towers condominium in Hulu Klang. The memorial plaque, unveiled by Marina Mahathir, the daughter of the Prime Minister on behalf of her mother, Datin Seri Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali, sums up their love for those who perished.

38. Support groups play vital role NST 12/12/1994
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - Support groups will play a vital role in helping victims of disasters such as the Highland Towers building collapse to overcome grief and trauma. University Hospital head of psychological medicine Dr M. Parameshvara Deva said the role of support groups such as the residents committee to look into legal and other matters would help relieve the victims' psychological burden.

39. Laws to make developers reduce soil erosion soon NST 12/12/1994  By Pang Hin Yue
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - With lingering memories of the Highland Towers disaster and the recent spate of landslides, the Government is pushing for laws compelling developers to minimise soil erosion before they construct buildings, to be tabled in Parliament in April. Disclosing this today, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said the amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act as well as Street and Drainage Act - aimed at protecting public safety and the environment - were recently approved by the Attorney-General's Chambers.

40. Drainage master plan MM 17/12/1994
    AMPANG JAYA Municipal Council last month appointed a consultant to draw up a drainage master plan for the Highland Towers and surrounding areas. He is expected to table a draft report at the council's full board meeting by February.

41. Eye on Highland Towers MM 30/12/1994 All reports on "Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Full-Board Meeting" by V. Vasudevan
    THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council is still monitoring the Highland Towers Block B and C to determine its stability and level of its underwater watertable. The council has also appointed a consultant to draw up a drainage master plan for the area to improve drainage at two housing estates, Pinggiran Ukay and Taman Hillview, which are on the fringe of Highland Towers.