MPAJ: No out-of-court settlement

13/12/2004 The Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR: "We will wait for the court's decision."

This is the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) reply to the Highland Towers residents and owners who called for an out-of-court settlement to conclude their compensation claims.

At Saturday's gathering, to commemorate the anniversary of the those killed in the tragedy, the residents said the chapter on the compensation will be closed once MPAJ settled with them.

The quantum of the settlement is still pending at the Federal Court.

The council had appealed against the Court of Appeal's decision on Dec 3, 2002, apportioning MPAJ a pre-collapse liability of 15 per cent, amounting to RM12 million.

The residents want the council to speed up compensating them through an out-of-court settlement.

Yesterday, MPAJ president Ahmad Shafii Saidin told The Malay Mail that an out-of-court settlement is a `no no'.

He said said that the MPAJ will be monitoring all developments on slopes of at least 36 degrees in Ampang Jaya.

"We will make sure all developments in the municipality follow the safety measures, rules and regulations to prevent a repeat of such a tragedy."

On Saturday, about 100 people, mainly owners and family members of the victims who died when the Block One tower collapsed, were present at Highland Towers for the memorial. It was the 11th anniversary of the tragedy.

Also present was Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, wife of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.