When Will they Ever Learn

It takes a tragedy for the authorities to act. Act they will but for how long, when will they start approval of developments on hills.

My condolences to the families of those who perished in this disaster.

Some news highlights of the many reported in the media.


Highland Towers survivor: The nightmare will not end
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/7/nation/2746211&sec=nation
PETALING JAYA: Dr Benjamin George (pic), a survivor of the Highland Towers tragedy in 1993, believes that landslides will never end – because the authorities do not have the will to stop it.

Commenting on the landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa, the 80-year-old plastic surgeon said politicians should be held accountable for what they say because they make statements against development but nothing ever materialised.

“The politicians will climb up their helicopters and say all development must stop.

“There will be a stop-work order for two months but in the third month the tractors will start work again.
...

Police stop search as no one else buried in landslide
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/13849-police-stop-search-as-no-one-else-buried-in-landslide
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 - Police have called off the search of more victims in the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide as everyone has been accounted for, declaring no one else is missing in the tragedy that killed four and trapped thousands.
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Fifteen people were treated for injuries while 93 others were rescued in the 3.30am landslide,which occurred near the Highland Towers collapse 15 years ago. Police also airlifted 13 people, including some pregnant and sickly.
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National Slope Master Plan ready next year
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/13876-national-slope-master-plan-ready-next-year
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Those occupying buildings in slope development areas will be asked to vacate their premises if they are found to be on the list of risky slopes under the National Slope Master Plan expected to be ready early next year.
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Review ongoing hillslope projects, Najib tells all state govts
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/7/nation/20081207161532&sec=nation
PEKAN: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak asked all state governments to review ongoing hillslope projects to avert landslides similar to Saturday’s incident at Bukit Antarabangsa in Hulu Klang, Selangor.
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PM: Stop all hillside projects
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/7/nation/2746282&sec=nation
KUALA LUMPUR: Enough! No more hillside housing projects at Bukit Antarabangsa, orders Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
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Pahang MB: No more highlands development
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/13874-pahang-mb-no-more-highlands-development
KUANTAN, Dec 7 — The Pahang government will not develop anymore highlands to prevent landslides.
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