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Highland Towers Collapse
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1. Lawyer: Water caused Highland Tower collapse NST 07/01/2000
   KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The lawyer for developer Highland Properties Sdn Bhd told the High Court today that water was the major cause of the collapse of Block 1 that killed 48 people on Dec 11, 1993. In a written submission to the court, counsel A.D. Rajah said it was a fact that Block 1 had collapsed after a prolonged period of heavy rain which contributed to a landslide.

2. Counsel: Water not cause of Highland Towers collapse NST 22/02/2000
   KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - The lawyer for the Ampang Municipal Council told the High Court today that water did not cause the collapse of Block 1 of Highland Towers that killed 48 people on Dec 11, 1993. In a written submission to the court, counsel V.S. Viswanathan said: " ... the fact that water has effectively nothing to do with the collapse of Block 1 and the forced evacuation of Blocks 2 and 3 is punctuated by the fact that the water level readings are very low behind the blocks and Blocks 2 and 3 are still standing ...

3. Landslip did not start from AMFB land, court told in Highland Towers case  NST 24/02/2000
   KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - A landslide resulting in the collapse of Block 1, Highland Towers, that killed 48 people on Dec 11, 1993, did not start from a plot of land belonging to Arab Malaysian Finance Bhd, the High Court heard today. In a written submission counsel Cecil Abraham, representing AMFB, said a high wall (located at the foot of a slope behind the blocks) on Highland Properties Sdn Bhd's land gave way leading to a series of landslides retrogressing up the slope to AMFB's land.

4. Highland Towers case: Counsel names `culprits' NST 25/02/2000
   KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The main culprits in the collapse of Block 1, Highland Towers, that killed 48 people on Dec 11, 1993, were Highland Properties Sdn Bhd and three others, the High Court heard today. In a written submission to the court, counsel Cecil Abraham, representing Arab Malaysian Finance Berhad, said the other three were draughtsman Wong Ting Sang, engineer Wong Yuen Kean and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).

5. Former Highland Towers residents of two blocks `have no right' NST 02/03/2000
   KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - Seventy-three former residents of Blocks Two and Three of Highland Towers cannot claim for losses suffered as a result of the collapse of Block One because they have no proprietary right over Block One, the High Court heard today. In a written submission to the court, counsel Datuk R. R. Sethu who is representing Metrolux Sdn Bhd and MBf Property Services Sdn Bhd, said a cause of action in negligence would only be available to a person who was a proprietor or in possession of the property that was damaged.

6. State cannot be party in Highland Towers suit, High Court told NST 04/03/2000
   KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. - The Selangor Government cannot be a party in a negligence suit filed by 73 former residents of Highland Towers because the identity of the government officer involved was not ascertained, the High Court heard today. Senior Federal Counsel Nik Suhaimi Nik Sulaiman, who is representing the Selangor Government and the director of the Land and Mines Department, said this in a written submission.

7. Highland Towers collapse: `Combination of different causes' NST 29/03/2000
   KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. - A landslide resulting in the collapse of Block 1, Highland Towers, that killed 48 people on Dec 11, 1993, was the combination of a number of causes, the High Court heard today. In a written submission, counsel N.Navaratnam, who is representing 73 former residents of Blocks 2 and 3 of Highland Towers, said it was the "concurrent and co-operating effect" of the increase of water due to inadequately designed and constructed drainage.

8. `AMFB knew of hillslope danger' NST 30/03/2000
   KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - Arab Malaysian Finance Bhd knew of the existing dangers of free-flowing water on a hillslope behind Highland Towers after the collapse of Block 1 in December 1993, but only implemented a drainage scheme last year, the High Court heard today. In a written submission read in court, counsel Yatis Ramachandran representing 73 former residents of Blocks 2 and 3 of Highland Towers, said the delay was clearly negligence and perpetuated a dangerous situation that prevented the reoccupation of the remaining blocks.

9. Lawyer: No scope for circumstantial evidence NST 05/04/2000
   KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. - Seventy-three former residents of Blocks 2 and 3 of Highland Towers are relying on circumstantial evidence against Metrolux Sdn Bhd and MBf Property Services Sdn Bhd in relation to the collapse of Block 1 in December 1993, the High Court heard today. Counsel Datuk R.R.Sethu, representing Metrolux and MBf Property Services, said this in a written submission in reply, read out in court.

10. `AMFB could not have prevented collapse of condo' NST 06/04/2000
    KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - Nothing that Arab Malaysian Finance Bhd could have done on their land would have prevented the collapse of Block 1 Highland Towers, the High Court heard today. Counsel Cecil Abraham, representing AMFB, said this in a written submission in reply. It was read in court today.

11. Highland Towers collapse: `MPAJ protected from liability' NST 08/04/2000
    KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. - A lawyer maintained that Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is protected from liability in relation to the collapse of Block One of Highland Towers, the High Court heard today. Counsel V.S. Viswanathan, who is representing MPAJ, said this in a written submission in reply, read in court today.

12. Highland Towers sarang lepak MA 04/06/2000 By Adam Salleh
    KUALA LUMPUR: Lebih enam tahun lalu, pangsapuri Highland Towers di Taman Hillview, Hulu Klang di pinggir ibu negara, menggemparkan negara apabila Blok A rebah menyembah bumi jam 1.35 petang, pada 11 Disember 1993, hingga mengorbankan lebih 55 penghuninya. Berikutan tragedi itu, Blok B dan C di sebelahnya dikosongkan kerana khuatir akan turut runtuh. Namun, sehingga kini, kedua-dua blok bangunan itu masih teguh.

13. Decision on negligence suit NST 26/07/2000
    KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. - The High Court has fixed Aug 11 to deliver its decision in a negligence suit by 73 former residents of Blocks Two and Three of Highland Towers against Highland Properties Sdn Bhd and nine others. The judgment will be delivered by judge Datuk James Foong who had heard the case.

14. Developers must show concern before incident occurs NST 08/08/2000  By I.G.
    AS a long-term expatriate resident of Kuala Lumpur and a previous owner of an apartment at Highland Towers, when I read your article in the City section (NST, Aug 1) "Living in Fear of Landslides", I thought, "Here we go again!" Haven't the authorities learnt anything? Do we have to have another Highland Towers before this rape of the land ceases? I said in another article when interviewed after the tragedy, "If God was an Asian developer the world would be flat".

15. Highland Towers: Mahkamah dapati tujuh pihak cuai BH 12/08/2000
    KUALA LUMPUR, Jumaat - Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini memutuskan tujuh daripada 10 pihak yang disaman 60 penghuni, waris dan keluarga mangsa tragedi pangsapuri Highland Towers, Hulu Klang yang runtuh tujuh tahun lalu, sebagai cuai. Hakim Datuk James Foong yang membacakan penghakiman 160 muka surat bagaimanapun belum meletakkan jumlah ganti rugi yang perlu dibayar kepada plaintif.

16. 7 culprits to pay MM 12/08/2000By Muzli Mohd Zin
    "JUSTICE was done!" This was the response from Highland Towers Owners and Residents Association chairman Dr Benjamin George after judgement was passed on their compensation suit yesterday at the High Court in Wisma Denmark, Jalan Ampang.

17. What the defendants have to pay MM 12/08/2000
    HIGH COURT judge Datuk James Foong Cheng Yuen said that the seven defendants would compensate the plaintiffs according to the following percentages: * Highland Properties (15 per cent)

18. Highland Towers residents win case NST 12/08/2000  By Sujatani Poosparajah
    KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. - Seven out of 10 defendants in a negligence suit by 73 former residents of Blocks Two and Three of Highland Towers were today found to have contributed to the landslide seven years ago that caused the collapse of Block One killing 48 people. In the trial that saw the defendants accusing each other of negligence, High Court judge Datuk James Foong apportioned liability for causing the tragedy and damage to the plaintiffs as follows:

19. Residents of Highland Towers laud decision NSUNT 13/08/2000  By Sujatani Poosparajah
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - "Happy" best describes Dr Benjamin George's feeling after the High Court decided yesterday that seven out of 10 defendants were negligent in causing the collapse of the Highland Towers' Block One apartment. Gazing up at the remaining two Highland Towers blocks in Ulu Kelang today - the site of the tragedy that claimed 48 lives on Dec 11, 1993, - Dr George, 70, along with retired planter P.V. Menon, 71, and lawyer T.M. Varughese, 67, said they were happy with the judgment.

20. Padah sikap ambil mudah HM 21/08/2000 By C Ramasamy
    SETELAH tujuh tahun berlalu, Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur pada 11 Ogos lalu memberikan keadilan kepada 48 orang yang terkorban dalam tragedi kondominium Highland Towers, Ulu Klang, Selangor. Hakim James Foong, dalam penghakiman setebal 162 muka surat, memutuskan tujuh daripada 10 defendan yang disaman bertanggungjawab menyebabkan blok satu yang didiami mangsa terbabit tumbang pada 11 Disember 1993, lantaran menyebabkan penghuni blok dua dan tiga terpaksa mengosongkan kediaman mereka sehingga kini.

21. When it's time to learn from a tragedy SUM 03/09/2000  By Meera Badmanaban
    MANY people will be able to recall the Highland Towers tragedy, in which 48 people lost their lives when Block One of the condominium development collapsed on December 11, 1993. As a result of this, seventy-three residents of Blocks Two and Three filed a suit in 1996, seeking RM50 million in damages. Judgment on this claim was finally delivered on August 11, this year. The High Court held that seven parties (out of 10 defendants) were liable for negligence. The decision was delivered by Justice Datuk James Foong in a 160-page judgment, with the apportionment of liability as follows:

22. Gati rugi: Permohonan AMFB ditolak BM 01/10/2000
    KUALA LUMPUR: Mahkamah Tinggi di sini semalam, menolak permohonan Arab- Malaysian Finance Bhd (AMFB) supaya perbicaraan taksiran ganti rugi kes saman 73 pemilik pangsapuri Highland Towers, Hulu Klang ditangguhkan sehingga rayuan syarikat itu diputuskan oleh Mahkamah Rayuan. Hakim Datuk James Foong yang mendengar permohonan AMFB menerusi peguam belanya, D Baskharan berkata, perbicaraan taksiran ganti rugi itu perlu diteruskan dan beliau menetapkan perbicaraan selama tiga minggu bermula pada 5 Mac hingga 16 Mac 2001.

23. March hearing to assess damages NSUNT 01/10/2000  By Sujatani Poosparajah
    KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - The High Court today fixed March 5-16 for hearing to determine the amount of damages to be paid to 73 former residents of Blocks Two and Three of Highland Towers who won their negligence suit against seven out of 10 defendants last month. Judge Datuk James Foong also dismissed an application for a stay of proceedings by counsel Dhinesh Bhaskaran, representing Arab Malaysian Finance Berhad (one of the defendants), pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision.

24. Perbicaraan taksiran ganti rugi ditangguh BH 13/10/2000
    KUALA LUMPUR, Khamis - Mahkamah Rayuan hari ini membenarkan permohonan Arab-Malaysian Finance Bhd (AMFB) supaya perbicaraan taksiran ganti rugi kes saman 73 pemilik pangsapuri Highland Towers, Hulu Klang, ditangguhkan sehingga rayuan syarikat itu diputuskan oleh mahkamah berkenaan. Presiden Mahkamah Rayuan, Tan Sri Lamin Yunus bersidang bersama Hakim Mahkamah Rayuan, Datuk Mokhtar Sidin dan Datuk Mohd Saari Yusoff, yang membuat keputusan itu, akan menetapkan tarikh perbicaraan rayuan secepat mungkin.

25. Courts stays assessment of damages NST 13/10/2000
    KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The Court of Appeal today stayed the assessment of damages to be paid to 73 former residents of Blocks Two and Three of Highland Towers who won their suit against seven of 10 defendants last month. The assessment proceedings were stayed pending the defendants' appeal against the High Court decision finding them liable.

26. Justice to Be Done 05/12/2000 Source: http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/96/0223/letters.html By Dr. Benjamin George
    THE HIGHLAND TOWERS OWNERS & Residents Committee congratulates Asiaweek on "A Towering Shame: Malaysia Must Punish Its Negligent Builders" [EDITORIALS, Jan. 26]. It was bold, forthright and to the point.