Isa: Hillslope development may be allowed again

Isa: Hillslope development may be allowed again
18/06/2005 The Star

Development on hillslopes especially for residential buildings may be permitted again due to land shortage in Kuala Lumpur.

Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said the ministry had instructed the Mineral and Geo-Science Department and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to conduct a study on hillslope development.

“Land is becoming scarce ... We may have to also develop hillslopes but with supervision to ensure that it will not have any short or long-term effects,” he told reporters on Thursday after opening a seminar on conservation of the environment.

Isa said the study, which cost the Government RM2mil, would be completed by the end of the year.

The findings would be used as guidelines by KL City Hall in the development of hillslopes, he said.

Referring to the development at Bukit Gasing, a 100ha forested area between Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, Mohd Isa said 40% of the land under KL City Hall would be developed while the rest would be gazetted as a green area.

On the Plaza Rakyat project near the Pudu Raya bus terminal that has remained abandoned for almost 10 years, Mohd Isa said the matter had yet to be resolved but discussions were being held with the developer. – Bernama