WE read with great sadness about the tragedy at Ulu Yam Perdana, Gombak, where a landslide killed two sisters while their parents and three other siblings escaped unhurt.

Our hearts reach out in sympathy to the family over the loss of their dear ones. No words, further assurances or any amount of compensation paid will restore the loss caused by the landslide. All that the family wanted was to live in peace in their house.

For sure the finger-pointing will begin, and for some quarters associated with development, there will be total silence, just waiting for the rage to blow over.

We, who live in Medan Damansara, have had a harrowing experience of similar nature. Kuala Lumpur City Hall has permitted housing development on a hillslope in our area where part of the slope is more than 35 degrees in steepness. The trees on the slopes have been cut and massive earthworks were undertaken.

Even before the clearance work commenced, we had warned that there would be landslides and floods. But our protests were ignored.

In June 2008, a tree fell in the middle of the night, and one of its branches pierced through the roof of a house and nearly killed a mother and daughter who were sleeping in a bedroom.

In August 2008, a landslide occurred and the family living there was fortunate to escape unscathed. After initial clearance work, the developer assured the occupants that it was safe to return. But the Fire and Rescue Department ordered the house to be evacuated because they feared another landslide would occur.

Sure enough, it happened in the middle of the night. Fortunately, a disaster was averted. Then there was flooding and other problems that residents had to put up with.

For some time, the work was put on hold because a stop-work order was slapped on the developer by City Hall. Recently, this was lifted and work has now commenced.

The Medan Damansara Residents Association had asked the consultants and developer for a simple assurance:

“In the recent past, the residents have experienced flooding and landslides due to the development works. Can we have an assurance that such incidents will not recur now that development work has re-commenced?”

Unfortunately, they are not prepared to give such an assurance for they say that such incidents are dependent on factors outside their control.

But for the residents who have been staying there for the past 35 years, and who have not experienced incidents of such magnitude before, not getting an assurance is not consoling.

To the authorities, we have but one simple question: Who is responsible for ensuring our safety now and in the years to come?

Who knows what is happening underground with all the development that is taking place? With all the earthworks taking place, who knows how the underground watercourse is being altered? How will it affect the long-term stability of the slopes? Tell us so that we can sleep in peace. But for now, we have not forgotten Highland Towers.

P. SUDHAKARAN, President, Medan Damansara Residents’ Association

Source: NST – December 2, 2008