Decision on Bukit Mas project next weeks

05/06/2006 New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Mas residents will know by next week whether more hillside development will take place in their area.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique has directed ministry parliamentary secretary Yew Teong Look and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Ruslin Hasan to compile a report on the development.

"The report will be submitted by tomorrow to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who will present it to the Cabinet on Wednesday for an immediate decision," said Zulhasnan, at present overseas on business.

"The report will take into account residents’ objections."

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi instructed Ruslin to review approval given by City Hall for development on the slopes near Kampung Pasir, where four people died in a landslide on Wednesday.

Abdullah said Ruslin must "go and see for himself" the situation in the area. Bukit Mas residents are looking forward to the mayor’s visit.

Residents’ association head Datuk Mohd Rosli Aziz said: "Only when you go down to the ground will you see what the situation really is.

"I hope after he comes, the mayor will re-think the whole thing."

Bukit Mas is about 100m from Kampung Pasir.

On May 17, Bukit Mas residents sent a petition to the mayor’s office, objecting to a housing project.

City Hall, it was reported, had given the developer the go-ahead to build 74 apartments and town villas on a steep and fragile slope in the area.

The mayor could not be contacted.