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Highland Towers Collapse
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Pages Jan - Jun | July to Dec 1995

1. Bangunan 5 tingkat wajib diperiksa BH 04/07/1995
   KUALA LUMPUR, Isnin - Semua bangunan melebihi lima tingkat wajib diperiksa keselamatan dan kestabilannya setiap 10 tahun bagi memastikan ia kukuh dan tidak membahayakan penghuni. Peraturan itu yang termaktub dalam pindaan Undang-undang Kecil Bangunan Seragam 1984 bertujuan memastikan kejadian bangunan runtuh seperti tragedi pangsapuri Highland Towers tidak berulang.

2. Mandatory inspection every 10 years: Ting BT 04/07/1995 By Mary Zachariah
   THE Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 is to be gazetted in September this year making it mandatory for buildings with more than five storeys to be inspected every 10 years. Housing and Local Goverment Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said the by- laws would be enforced immediately after they have been gazetted.

3. Building sector contribution to go up BT 04/07/1995
   THE building and construction industry is expected to double its contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) by the year 2000. The industry currently contributes about 4 per cent of the GDP. Sirim's director-general, Datuk Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali said this at the dialogue between Sirim and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) yesterday.

4. Keselamatan kondominium HM 04/07/1995
   KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan berharap Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) dapat memastikan semua peraturan berkaitan keselamatan dan kestabilan bangunan diberi perhatian apabila meluluskan semula pembinaan kondominium di lereng bukit. Ini bertujuan memastikan kejadian tidak diingini, seperti tragedi Highland Towers daripada berulang.

5. Safety tests a must for some buildings soon NST 04/07/1995 By A. Hafiz Yatim
   KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - From September, all buildings of five storeys or more and which are 10 years or older will require safety inspections from certified structural and civil engineers. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said this ruling is to be imposed since the amendment to the Uniform Building By- Laws 1984 is expected to be gazetted in two months' time.

6. A look at old structures NST 05/07/1995
   BETTER safety standards emerging out of the Highland Towers debris with the soon-to-be-gazetted amendments to the Uniform Building By-law should serve to temper some of the skepticism that the resultant hullabaloo is silenced when the dust settles. The amendments which, among other things, require that buildings higher than five storeys and above 10 years old should undergo safety inspections by certified structural and civil engineers, when enforced, will hopefully see a greater respect for maintenance and public safety among owners of buildings. The onus being on the building management or owner to conduct the safety checks, the engineers to conduct the safety inspections, and the local municipal councils to monitor the buildings, accountability should assume bigger and more significant proportions in the scheme of legislative obligations and civic consiousness. It provides a safety harness for the public in that where civic sense fails, the fear of punishment should become operative.

7. Environment must not be sacrificed for development: Daim BT 08/07/1995
   FORMER Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin has expressed concern over environmentally-destructive development projects in Malaysia and criticised developers and planners who associate development only in terms of sky-scrappers without regard to the consequences. He said in Malaysia mountains are flattened and trees felled indiscriminately and these acts are destroying the environment. "Where else in this world can we see sky-scrappers being built on mountains but in Malaysia," he said in his letter published by Utusan Malaysia yesterday.

8. Menara jadi sasaran BM 09/07/1995
   AMPANG: Kes kecurian pelbagai peralatan dan harta benda yang ditinggal di dua blok bangunan kondominium Highland Towers dekat sini, dilaporkan semakin berleluasa sejak kebelakangan ini. Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Penghuni Highlands Towers, Dr Benjamin George, berkata sejak tragedi sebuah bangunan di situ runtuh pada Disember 1993, lebih 30 orang ditahan kerana disyaki terbabit mencuri di sekitar kawasan dua blok bangunan itu.

9. Looters on the loose at Blocks 2, 3 SUM 09/07/1995
   THE deserted Blocks 2 and 3 of the Highland Towers in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, is slowly but surely being ripped apart ... not by demolition squads as originally directed but by looters! And these are no ordinary looters out to make some easy pocket money either! They are scrap metal dealers who make daily rounds to the poorly guarded blocks in search of metal, be they metal window grilles or copper wires.

10. Towers: Speed up hearing SUM 09/07/1995  By V. Vasudevan
    THE Highland Towers Owners and Residents' Committee has urged the Government to speed up hearing of legal suits brought against various parties. The committee said it had been almost two years since the collapse of the multi-storye apartment block in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, and the progress, if any, towards resolving the many issues was indeed slow.

11. Residents seek help to settle claims, disputes NSUNT 09/07/1995  By Ramlan Said
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - After almost two years and with no solution in sight, the Highland Towers Owners and Residents Committee today appealed to the authorities to assist in speeding up the various claims and disputes arising from the collapse of the condominium. It said the case should be considered special and justify intervention to enable hearings to be initiated as soon as possible.

12. Tragedi alam perlu jadi pengajaran BH 10/07/1995 By Shamshul Azree Samshir
    KUALA LUMPUR, Ahad - Kerajaan perlu memperketatkan pelaksanaan undang- undang mengenai pemuliharaan alam sekitar bagi mengelak pihak yang bertanggungjawab terhadap tragedi akibat bencana alam terlepas begitu sahaja. Kebanyakan pembaca yang menghubungi ruangan ini berpendapat, walaupun bencana alam tidak dapat dielakkan, kesannya kepada manusia dapat dikurangkan jika pihak yang bertanggungjawab berusaha ke arah itu, sama ada melalui undang-undang atau ketegasan mereka.

13. Stiffer penalties to ensure building safety BT 11/07/1995
    ALL those responsible for submitting building plans, and for their construction - be they architects, engineers, contractors, or site supervisors - who fail to ensure the safety or stability of their construction projects will soon be held liable to fines of up to RM500,000 or 10 years' jail or both. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said yesterday this will be made possible with the recent amendments to the Uniform Building By-Laws (1984).

14. Hill projects: States told to go by the Act NST 11/07/1995  By G. Danapal
    KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - State Governments must abide by the Land Conservation Act on the development of projects on hillslopes pending the settlement of a legal query over the mandatory implementation of environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports for such development projects. Science, Technology and Environment Minister Datuk Law Hieng Ding said today the Act clearly stated that development projects of a five-degree gradient were considered moderate, 20-degree gradient as dangerous and 30 degrees as critical.

15. Kabinet bincang projek tanah tinggi BH 12/07/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Selasa - Kabinet akan membincangkan kelemahan penguatkuasaan peraturan projek pembangunan di tanah tinggi yang tidak terkawal, esok serta mencari jalan mengatasinya. Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata penguatkuasaan peraturan penting diberi penekanan kerana kegiatan pembangunan kawasan tanah tinggi masih berleluasa walaupun banyak undang-undang dan peraturan digubal oleh kerajaan.

16. Pembinaan: Tangani secara profesional BH 14/07/1995
    TRAGEDI Highland Towers dan tanah runtuh di jalan susur ke Genting Highlands meninggalkan banyak pengajaran. Isnin lalu, kita dikejutkan pula dengan kejadian bumbung sebuah bangunan di Klang runtuh. Kejadian di Persiaran Raja Muda Musa, Klang itu meragut dua nyawa manakala dua lagi pekerja parah. Kejadian itu menunjukkan masih wujud kelemahan yang mungkin berpunca daripada langkah keselamatan yang longgar oleh pekerja sendiri atau pihak yang terbabit memang tidak menekankan soal keselamatan pekerja di tapak projek. Kita sedih kerana kemalangan sedemikian berpunca daripada faktor kemanusiaan. Dalam tragedi Highland Towers 11 Disember 1993, Blok A pangsapuri itu runtuh dan mengorbankan 48 nyawa, manakala Blok B dan C dikosongkan. Ia dikatakan berpunca akibat struktur bangunan yang tidak kukuh. Tragedi tanah runtuh di jalan susur ke Genting Highlands yang mengorbankan 20 orang serta mencederakan 22 orang pada 30 Jun lalu, turut dikaitkan dengan pembinaan di kawasan berhampiran. Bagaimanapun, hasil penyiasatan muktamad masih belum dipastikan. Kita kesal dengan sikap kontraktor pembinaan yang tidak mengambil iktibar daripada kemalangan lalu. Menurut laporan Perkeso, kemalangan di sektor pembinaan meningkat daripada 3,377 kes pada 1991 kepada 3,615 kes pada 1992 dan 4,207 kes pada 1993.

17. Disaster relief team to be formed NST 14/07/1995
    SHAH ALAM, Thurs. - The Special Malaysian Assistance and Disaster Relief Team (Smart) will be set up in November this year, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said today. He said the team, which would be placed under the jurisdiction of the National Security Council, would be partly trained by trainers from the Fire Services Department.

18. Accountability is the key MB 16/07/1995
    MALAYSIANS may be excused if they feel a little bit stressed by the environment they live in nowadays. It would be a good source of humour, if not for the dead bodies. A road (in Puchong) sinks into a chasm; an upmarket apartment block (Highland Towers in Hulu Klang) topples over, entombing its occupants; a landslide (on the way to Genting Highlands) buries vehicles and holidaymakers; a burst waterpipe (in Kuala Lumpur city centre) damages vehicles and buildings and injures passers-by; a collapsed hillslope (in Batu Pahat) destroys homes and factories.

19. Elakkan tragedi satu tanggungjawab BH 18/07/1995
    KEBELAKANGAN ini kita sering dipaparkan dengan tragedi di kawasan bukit berikutan peristiwa tanah runtuh di jalan susur ke Genting Highlands. Sebelum itu, tragedi Highland Towers memaksa kita memikirkan dengan tegas cara mengatasi masalah pembinaan bangunan di lereng bukit. Kedua-dua peristiwa itu menjadi perhatian umum kerana ia membabitkan banyak nyawa terkorban serentak. Kemalangan di lereng bukit mungkin berlaku sekali sekala tetapi kesannya begitu dirasakan. Dari semasa ke semasa kita juga sering mendengar laporan mengenai kemalangan di laut sama ada ia membabitkan nelayan atau pengguna kenderaan air seperti bot, sampan, penambang dan sebagainya. Laporan seperti ini tidak begitu hangat dibincangkan kerana setiap kali berlaku nahas bilangan mangsa yang terbabit mungkin kecil dan dianggap sebagai kemalangan biasa. Begitu juga dengan kemalangan di jalan raya. Meskipun saban hari ada saja orang terkorban, namun ia sudah dianggap lumrah. Hanya apabila kemalangan membabitkan banyak nyawa terkorban, barulah ia mendapat perhatian semua pihak. Tidak dapat dielakkan dalam apa juga peristiwa, kecuaian manusia terpaksa dibabitkan. Faktor manusia yang menjadi punca kepada masalah ini mungkin berbeza daripada tahapnya. Ia mungkin disebabkan oleh proses pembinaan yang tidak mengambil kira faktor keselamatan dan tidak kurang juga kelalaian mereka yang terbabit dalam nahas itu.

20. Pembangunan tidak terkawal memusnahkan BH 18/07/1995  By Ahmad Faisal Alias
    KETIKA pembangunan pesat bermula di seluruh negara dan bandar utama, masih banyak kawasan lapang dan dilitupi oleh tumbuh-tumbuhan atau tanah berpaya. Kawasan seperti ini memberi sumbangan secara senyap kepada kehidupan seharian dengan membekalkan udara dan sistem hidrosfera bersih. Kerja tanah yang berkaitan dengan kerja pembinaan bangunan dan projek perumahan, perniagaan, rekreasi serta perindustrian juga berlaku pada kadar yang rendah. Dengan itu, tanah-tanih di kawasan itu terlindung daripada kuasa semula jadi dan ejen-ejen hakisan. Contohnya, tumbuh-tumbuhan di situ akan menampan dan memintas air hujan daripada terus jatuh ke permukaan bumi. Air hujan yang dipintas lambat laun akan sampai juga ke permukaan bumi tetapi pada kadar yang jauh lebih perlahan dan tidak menjejaskan permukaan bumi dan struktur tanah. Tumbuh- tumbuhan tutup bumi daripada mengalir dengan pantas dan menghakis permukaan bumi. Akar tumbuh-tumbuhan juga bertindak mencengkam kuat butiran-butiran tanah dan menghalangnya daripada terhakis.

21. Pemaju mungkin dikenakan deposit BH 19/07/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Selasa - Pemaju hartanah mungkin dikenakan deposit sebagai jaminan bahawa setiap projek yang mereka bangunkan bermutu dan selamat diduduki. Langkah itu juga bertujuan melindungi kepentingan pembeli serta memastikan pemaju bertanggungjawab terhadap bangunan atau kediaman yang mereka dirikan.

22. Where it's a case of justice delayed is truly justice denied NST 19/07/1995  By Dr Benjamin George
    THE Genting Highlands tragedy has awakened the conscience of our nation and reminded it of the almost forgotten Highland Towers tragedy. On Dec 11, 1993, the Highland Towers Block One collaped because of a massive, megaton landslip from the hill behind it. The nation was shocked. The world watched. Our leaders were quick to respond with bold statements and prompt action.

23. Developers may pay deposit for safety, quality NST 19/07/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. - The Housing and Local Government Ministry wants property developers to place a deposit with the relevant approving authorities to back the quality and safety assurances of their projects. Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh today said this proposal was now being studied and if found feasible, would be gazetted as law.

24. Malaysia lebih prihatin terhadap alam sekitar BH 20/07/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Rabu - Keprihatinan Malaysia terhadap alam sekitar jauh lebih baik berbanding negara sedang membangun lain dan negara maju. Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata, negara maju sebenarnya tidak mempedulikan keadaan alam sekitar ketika mereka membangun dahulu. Baru kini mereka mengenakan pelbagai syarat berkaitan alam sekitar sedangkan sebelum ini mereka tidak pernah mengambil kira semua itu.

25. Highland Towers looters stopped MM 22/07/1995
    AS owners of units in Blocks 2 and 3 of the Highland Towers fight a dragging legal battle to save their property from being demolished, looters continue to plunder household items from the relatively unguarded buildings. However, seven looters did not get away with stealing electrical appliances and metal frames from the units when they were detained by police in the past two weeks.

26. Local authorities may suspend errant parties NSUNT 23/07/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - Local authorities may be given the power to suspend or blacklist errant developers, contractors and professionals from undertaking projects in a move to check against slipshod performance and inferior quality of work. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said today other measures that might be introduced to deal with unscrupulous players in the construction industry included banning the use of in-house professional and contracting services.

27. Insuring house and worldly belongings NSUNT 23/07/1995 By Shaik Osman Majid
    LANDSLIPS, subsidences of land and the collapse of buildings are very much in the news these days. We have had more than our share of these tragedies. A month ago, lives and vehicles were engulfed by landslips along the road to Genting Highlands. In December 1993, a 12-storey condominium block collapsed in a scheme known as Highland Towers. Forty-eight people perished.

28. No excuse for tardy states NST 28/07/1995
    THE State Governments in Peninsular Malaysia seem to be dragging their feet in adopting the amendments to the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1994 which were passed by Parliament last August and gazetted the following September. Perhaps it would be unfair to view this tardiness as a reflection of the general state of affairs in the State Governments and the local authorities under their jurisdiction, which administer land and related matters, but it certainly does them no credit as far as efficiency is concerned. The amendments are sorely needed and have been promulgated following the Highland Towers tragedy which occurred in December 1993 with the loss of 48 lives.

29. Flet bak lubang kubur HM 29/07/1995 By Fadzil Abdul Rashid; Asrol Awang; Aszahari Ali
    KUANTAN: Kira-kira 500 penghuni rumah pangsa berkembar Blok N1 dan N2 di Taman Perumahan Awam Kos Rendah (PAKR) Bandar Indera Mahkota di sini dalam bahaya kerana blok bangunan lima tingkat itu dikatakan dibina di atas bekas satu saliran anak sungai yang diratakan. Kebanyakan penduduk yang ditemui mendakwa tapak asas rumah pangsa yang dibina pada 1990 dan diduduki setahun kemudian tidak kukuh kerana wujudnya aliran air di bawah tanah yang menyebabkan tanah mendap secara perlahan- lahan.

30. Developers to get guide book containing all laws NST 29/07/1995 By Chan Cheng Tuan
    PETALING JAYA, Fri. - The Government is coming out with a comprehensive compilation of all important laws and regulations governing development projects to ensure those concerned are fully aware of them. The Housing and Local Government, and Science, Technology and Environment Ministries will be setting up a joint committee to compile the guidelines for the easy reference of developers.

31. Down, out of pocket and forgotten NSUNT 30/07/1995 By Carolyn Hong
    THE sole "resident" of the deserted Highland Towers these days is a lone turtle paddling lethargically in a mossy and stagnant pool. But the spooky atmosphere which echoes with every footstep has not deterred looters or morbid curiosity seekers. Even as we stood outside Block 2, we heard sounds of hammering as if looters were at work and bumped into obvious "tourists" who peered in but dared not enter.

32. No hearing date yet for case taken by residents against developer, others NSUNT 30/07/1995
    SINCE Block 1 fell over on 11 Dec 1993, a whirlwind of events has turned the Highland Towers issue into a myriad of twists and turns. For Block 1, six victims and kin of those affected by the collapsed block have filed a suit at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 15, 1994 against the developer, Highland Properties Sdn Bhd and eight others, seeking RM1.6 million in special damages and redress.

33. Report finds slopes, walls pose danger NSUNT 30/07/1995
    LEAVING aside the question of who is to blame for the Highland Towers collapse and to pay for remedial works, what are the chances of saving the remaining blocks? The residents believe they can be saved and have come up with a technical report to prove this. Their report also took into account the MPAJ inquiry committee report which found that the structure of Block 1 (which would be applicable for Blocks 2 and 3 as they are identical) as a whole was adequate and would not collapse under normal loading conditions.

34. Laporan dikemuka 15 Oktober BH 02/08/1995 By Sharifuddin Mohamed; Fazli Abdullah
    KUANTAN, Selasa - Jawatankuasa Penyiasat Teknikal (JPT) yang ditubuhkan hari ini bagi menjalankan siasatan berkaitan keretakan di semua 17 flet Perumahan Awam Kos Rendah (PAKR) Bandar Indera Mahkota di sini, akan mengemukan laporan akhirnya pada 15 Oktober depan. Laporan itu akan diserahkan kepada jawatankuasa induk yang diketuai Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perumahan dan Alam Sekitar negeri, Datuk Bahari Yahaya untuk tindakan lanjut menangani masalah itu.

35. Kejadian flet retak sudah diduga HM 02/08/1995
    NEGARA pernah dikejutkan dengarn tragedi kondominium Highland Towers di Hulu Klang runtuh hingga menimbulkan banyak persoalan di kalangan masyarakat mengenai mutu dan keselamatan industri pembinaan tempatan. Malah tidak kurang 10 kes yang hampir sama berlaku di seluruh negara seolah-olah ada sesuatu yang tidak kena dengan industri itu.

36. Projek lereng bukit dibeku sementara BH 11/08/1995 ll reports on "Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri Pulau Pinang" by Ridzuan Yop
    GEORGETOWN, Khamis - Kerajaan negeri membekukan sementara semua projek pembangunan di lereng bukit negeri ini seperti diarahkan kabinet berikutan tragedi Highland Towers pada Disember 1993. Pengerusi Pembangunan Tanah dan Alam Sekitar negeri, Abdul Latiff Mirasa, berkata dalam tempoh pembekuan itu, pemaju turut diarah mengemukakan laporan geoteknikal di kawasan pembinaan mereka.

37. Why trees are felled MM 17/08/1995
    THE puzzle over the clearing of trees and shrubs on a hillock near the entrance to Taman Hillview close to Highland Towers has been solved - it is being done to facilitate work on the six-lane middle ring road. Ampang Jaya Municipal Council assistant public relations officer Norhayati Ahmad said residents need not worry as the clearing work is being done for the road project.

38. Venice Hill condo is safe, says developer MM 26/08/1995 By Kamalia Abdullah
    THE Hulu Langat District Council is practising transparency by allowing residents to see progress reports on a hillslope project to allay fears of a repeat of the Highland Towers collapse. This assurance was given to Taman Mudun residents at a meeting yesterday with Venice Hill Resort Living Sdn Bhd which is developing condominiums next to their area.

39. Geotechnical reports a must NST 12/09/1995
    HOUSING developers who want to construct buildings on hillslopes must submit geotechnical reports to the authorities to prove that it is safe do so, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Peter Chin said. Replying to Senator Datin Wan Intan Wan Ahmad Tajuddin, he said this was one of the conditions imposed by the ministry following the Highland Towers incident on Dec 11, 1993 where 48 people were killed. Chin said following the incident, the Government discouraged buildings to be erected on hillslopes. To ensure stricter enforcement, the ministry had also amended the Town and Country Planning Act, 1976 to make sure that hillslope developments would not adversely affect nearby areas. Chin said the ministry was also aware that not all local authorities have professional technical staff members to process building plans for hillslope developments. He added the Government had promised to increase the number of such professional people to meet the increasing demand for such services.

40. Team to learn from overseas rescue teams NST 28/09/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - A team led by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Chong Kah Kiat will leave for a four-nation tour tomorrow to study the training and equipment used by disaster assistance and rescue teams in these countries. The four-member team will visit the United States, Sweden, France and the United Kingdom.

41. Penduduk sambut baik keputusan
    BH 04/10/1995
    SHAH ALAM, Selasa - Jawatankuasa Penduduk Highland Towers menyambut baik keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini membatalkan notis Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) supaya blok dua dan tiga bangunan di situ dibaiki atau diruntuhkan. Pengerusinya, Dr Benjamin George, berkata keputusan mahkamah menunjukkan notis yang dikeluarkan oleh MPAJ tidak dibuat mengikut undang-undang.

42. Mahkamah batal notis MPAJ BH 04/10/1995  By Norazmi Abdul Talib
    SHAH ALAM, Selasa - Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini membatalkan notis yang dikeluarkan oleh Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) supaya bangunan Blok Dua dan Tiga Highland Towers, Hulu Klang, dibaiki atau diruntuhkan. Hakim Datuk Faiza Tamby Chik memutuskan bahawa notis yang dikeluarkan oleh MPAJ kepada pemilik serta penduduk blok terbabit, Highland Properties Sdn Bhd dan Yap Kim Hee & Sons Sdn Bhd, adalah di luar bidang kuasa majlis itu.

43. Court quashes MPAJ's notice BT 04/10/1995
    THE High Court in Shah Alam yesterday granted the application by the Highland Towers Residents and Owners Committee for an order of certiorari to quash a notice issued by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) to repair or demolish blocks 2 and 3 of the Highland Towers in Ulu Klang in Kuala Lumpur. Justice Datuk Faiza Tamby Chik granted the application with cost on the grounds that the residents were not the owner of the land and the building though they purchased the apartments as they did not have the strata title. In this matter, he said MPAJ should issue the notice to the developer, High Land Properties Sdn Bhd, as they are the rightful owner. - Bernama

44. `We prefer to be compensated' MM 04/10/1995  By P. Selvarani
    NOTWITHSTANDING the Shah Alam High Court ruling yesterday, residents and owners of the Highland Towers in Ulu Kelang would rather be compensated than live in a place where safety would always be suspect. Those from Blocks 2 and 3 feel that the companies developing the land surrounding the blocks should buy over their property instead of just strengthening the structure.

45. Highland Towers demolition notice quashed NST 04/10/1995  By Annie Freeda Cruez
    SHAH ALAM, Tues. - Owners of Highland Towers Blocks 2 and 3 today won their first round in preventing the demolition of their former homes when the High Court quashed a notice issued by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (AJMC) in July last year. The notice had ordered that the blocks be either repaired within three months or demolished.

46. Council awaits High Court's decision MM 05/10/1995
    THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council is awaiting the written judgment of the Shah Alam High Court before deciding on the next move over the future of the two remaining Highland Towers blocks. Council president Abdul Karim Munisar said once a copy of the judgment is received, the council's lawyers will study it and make their recommendations on what it should do next.

47. Consultant appointed to draw up drainage master plan MM 05/10/1995
    THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council has finally appointed a consultant to draw up a drainage master plan for the Highland Towers and surrounding areas. Council president Abdul Karim Munisar said the consultant who will begin work in the next few days expects to have the plan ready in about six weeks.

48. Salvage not practical MM 06/10/1995 By V. Vasudevan
    THE best option for the remaining two blocks of the condemned Highland Towers both financially and psychologically, is to demolish and redevelop the land. Several geo-technical experts and engineers contacted said this was the only practical option as making the building safe as proposed was financially prohibitive.

49. Highland Towers panel upset over slow progress NST 06/10/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The Highland Towers Owners/Residents Committee is disappointed at the failure of the authorities to act against the parties responsible for the collapse of the condominium block. Its chairman, Dr Benjamin George, said it would soon be two years since the tragedy and the authorities should act so that those responsible would take the initiative to find a solution to the problem.

50. Find own solution, Highland Towers panel told NSUNT 08/10/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - It is the duty of the Highland Towers Owners- Residents Committee to convince the parties developing the area to buy over the two blocks whose fate is still in question, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said today. He said his ministry has exhausted all avenues to find a solution to the residents' grievances and could not do anything more.

51. Committee seeks payoff for Highland Towers units NST 09/10/1995  By Ahmad Suffian
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - The Highland Towers Owners/Residents Committee is prepared to accept a fixed quantum payment as compensation for their apartments in Blocks Two and Three, which have been declared unsafe for occupation. Committee chairman Dr Benjamin George said the committee would approach MBf Properties Sdn Bhd and Arab-Malaysian Finance Berhad, which owns the nearby hilltop and hillslope areas, to acquire the land on which the two condominium blocks were sited.

52. Penduduk setuju adakan dialog BH 13/10/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Khamis - Jawatankuasa Penduduk dan Pemilik Highland Towers menyambut baik keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi membatalkan notis yang dikeluarkan oleh Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) supaya bangunan Blok Dua dan Tiga Highland Towers, Hulu Klang, dibaiki atau diruntuhkan. Setiausaha jawatankuasa itu, Chan Keng Fook, berkata keputusan hakim itu mengambil kira mengenai pelbagai masalah yang mungkin dihadapi penduduk.

53. Condo panel seeks RM55m compensation NSUNT 15/10/1995 By Vincent De Paul
    KUALA LUMPUR Sat. - The Highland Towers Owners/Residents Committee is seeking a fixed quantum payment of about RM55.2 million as compensation for the 92 apartment owners of Blocks Two and Three which have been declared unsafe for occupation. The figure includes RM450,000 for each apartment in addition to RM150,000 for loss of income and for loss of household items, according to committee chairman Dr Benjamin George.

54. No time limit for housing liability NST 20/10/1995
    HOUSING developers are liable for structural defects although the problem occurred after the 12-month warranty period, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Tajol Rosli Mohamad Ghazali said yesterday. He said there was no time limit for liability due to structural defects as in the Highland Towers incident.

55. Proposal on EIA for four activities to be tabled BT 26/10/1995 By Joycelyn Lee
    THE Science, Technology and Environment Ministry will table a proposal on the mandatory implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports for the development of hill slopes, golf courses, former landfills and former mining land at the National Land Council meeting in November. Minister Datuk Law Hieng Ding said although approval by the council regarding the mandatory implementation of EIAs for these developments will not make it legally binding, such approval will make the move more acceptable to state governments.

56. 1,097 EIA reports received since 1988 NSUNT 12/11/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - The Department of Environment received 1,097 Environmental Impact Assessments since such reports were made a requirement for certain projects in 1988. Of the number, 1,035 comprised preliminary EIAs, 55 were risk analyses, seven detailed reports and the remaining 11 reports of studies carried out on development proposals in the Exclusive Economic Zone.

57. Resolving strata title problems NST-LTIMES 15/11/1995 By Sheila Stanley
    WHEN Block One of Highland Towers in Kuala Lumpur collapsed on Dec 11, 1993, the whole nation grieved. There was also a lot of finger-pointing. On Dec 4, 1994, when making an order of certiorari to quash the repair- or-demolish notice given by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council in July that year, the High Court noted that the rightful owner of the land on which Blocks Two and Three stood was not the residents but the developer. Apparently, strata titles had not been issued.

58. Highland Towers committee seeks Anwar's mediation BT 12/12/1995
    THE Highland Towers Owners/Residents' Committee is seeking the assistance of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to act as a mediator between the committee and the two parties which contributed to the Highland Towers' tragedy two years ago. Anwar is the chairman of the Special Committee on the Highland Towers Tragedy.

59. Suasana pilu di Highland Towers HM 12/12/1995
    KUALA LUMPUR: Suasana sedih menyelubungi sekitar tapak pangsapuri Highland Towers yang tumbang pada 11 Disember 1993 lalu, apabila keluarga serta sanak saudara 48 mangsa tragedi itu berkumpul bagi memperingati genap dua tahun peristiwa itu. Selain itu, kira-kira 50 orang lagi terdiri daripada rakan mangsa, anggota polis serta wakil pertubuhan beruniform yang terbabit dalam operasi menyelamat serta wakil media massa menghadiri upacara itu.

60. Pemilik tuntut keadilan HM 12/12/1995 By Azwani Abdul Ghani
    KUALA LUMPUR: Pemilik Pangsapuri Highland Towers akan menghantar petisen kepada Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim jika masih gagal mengadakan dialog dengan Arab Malaysian Finance Berhad dan Malaysia Borneo Finance Berhad. Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Penghuni dan Pemilik Pangsapuri Highland Towers, Dr Benjamin George, berkata dialog berkenaan bertujuan mencari jalan penyelesaian di luar mahkamah memandangkan kedua-dua institusi kewangan itu turut bertanggungjawab terhadap tragedi itu.

61. Hghlands Towers panel to seek Anwar's help NST 12/12/1995 By Ahmad Suffian
    KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - The Highland Towers Owners/Residents' Committee will submit a signed petition to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to seek his assistance to compel the contributory parties to the collapse of Block A on Dec 11, 1993, to negotiate some form of compensation for them. Its chairman, Dr Benjamin George, said the petition to Anwar, who is also chairman for the Cabinet committee for the Highland Towers tragedy, would contain signatures of the 660 residents of Blocks B and C, relatives of the 48 people who perished in the tragedy and their close friends.

62. Remembering Highland Towers victims NST 12/12/1995
    THE MEMORY AND GRIEF LIVE ON ... Two years have passed since a block of the Highland Towers collapsed and while the city and its surroundings shot skywards, the death of 48 people has been largely forgotten. Housewife Jenny Tan shed tears as she paid tribute yesterday to the victims, including her three sons, her sister, brother-in-law and nephew.