From AsiaOne
BUKIT MERTAJAM, MALAYSIA: Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on all parties to stop the blame game over the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy.
He said the focus should be on finding out the cause of the tragedy and not point fingers.
“Now is not the issue of blame. We need to get to the bottom of the cause (of the tragedy) and the results of whatever findings should be made public for the people to judge.
“But instead, we now have an attempt to cover up by proportioning the blame to who is in charge now,” he said to newsmen during a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Yayasan Aman yesterday.
The Permatang Pauh MP called the Government to launch a full and independent investigation on not only Bukit Antarabangsa, but also other hillside development projects in the country.
He said the Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor had stopped approving all category three and four hillside development projects on Bukit Antarabangsa since March this year.
“For the last 15 years, the projects on Bukit Antarabangsa have been blatantly approved by the previous administration.
“Now, the Selangor Government has to scrutinise all 90 hillside development projects in the state that were approved by the previous government.
“It will be difficult for the current government to cancel the projects because it could lead to court cases,” he said.
On the Kuala Terengganu by-election, Anwar said PKR and DAP would support any candidate PAS picked.
He was optimistic that Pakatan would make it in Kuala Terengganu if all its coalition parties worked hard to face the might of the Barisan Nasional machinery.
Anwar had a tight schedule yesterday when he visited sick constituents, distributed beef and attended kenduri Qurban at Telok Wang, Mengkuang Mak Sulong, Sungai Semambu, Kampung Paya, Permatang Rawa, Kampung Pertama, Sembilang, Tanjung Putus and Bukit Indera Muda.
Let’s imagine beyond our horizon on Municipal’s immunity syndrome:-
1 It is arguable when we have a Capitalist regime, it tends to favor it’s affiliated bodies as compared to others. Easier to work in this scenario
2 In a Capitalist regime and if I am immune from law suits for any wrong doing, then it is presumably PRODUCTIVITY will increase without fear but maybe with favor!!!
3 Tapalah, kita boleh buat apa-apa, bukan dia boleh sue sama kita!!! Suka hati kita lah…. Sini sana approve salah tak apa lah!!! Kena sue it developer mah & bukan kerajaan!!! Bodoh, you tak mau kah? Relax brother!!!
4 Oh my God! There is another land slide! We, the municipal council stress all Good Corporate Governance! Our SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) is in accordance to the law! Bukan dia boleh buat apa-apa! Relax brother! We are immune!
5 Hey Kawan, you punya rumah sudah banyak crack lah! Ini bahaya! But in his heart, “ahh how to answer to my boss lah when he ask how we approve the CF?”
Well Done! You have promoted Lackadaisical Attitude with your immunity laws!!!
Ohh! Criminal negligence ! Itu bukan saya! Itu Developer mah!!! Dia giam liau mah!!! Bukan dia boleh sue sama kita???
We have a screwed up combination – an irresponsible developer versus an immune municipal council. Nobody can change this fact!!!
I am sure there will be more tragedies yet to come and more innocent lives to be taken!
No point debating or writing good essays on the dead/ aftermath! Instead preserve the living by setting up task force to monitor all sites (not only hill sites but ALL buildings) that may pose a danger for collapsing!
We can prevent this from ever happening again and if it does, our conscious will be clear – I have done what I could and that’s it…………………….
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Datuk Seri,
After every disaster there will be all sorts of studies and reports. By the time the report is out the issue at hand is very likely be forgotten. After meetings and meetings, the report most likely will find its way to the shelf to collect dust.
Datuk Seri, beside the independent investigation, I would suggest that a committee be set up to study the quality of the technical staff we have in all local authorities (LAs) and Engineering Depts (DPs). It is a usual practice that reports (eg. slope stability, EIA etc) for developments are submitted to the LAs and DPs as a requirement for project approval. But most of the time the reports will not be read or if so, probably the Engineers or the subordinates in charge will not understand them. Many competent Engineers are being sidelined in the name of NEP and have found their way to the private sectors. Do they have a choice if their surbodinates are being promoted to oversee them?
Cracks in flyovers, pipe leaking in parliament, collapse of school roofs,etc should not have happened if the Authorities are manned with competent and dedicated Engineers,etc. These would be unimaginable two or more decades ago. Are our Authorities competent enough to evaluate works by Consultants and Contractors. We need the best Engineers etc in the LAs and DPs as all Engineering failures affect all people irregardless of race and religion. I agree with you that NEP has to be abandoned and replace with NEA for us to move forward as a Nation. Change is inevitable.
CTLee
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tell this to azmin and khalid ibrahim on their face…. get to work.. pointing fingers doesn’t solve the issue..
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kepada penduduk bukit antarabangsa,
cuba dapatkan pampasan drpd syarikat pembinaan yang membina perumahan tersebut beberapa thn lepas dan jgn hanya tahu salahkan kerajaan selangor(tak kira BN atau PR).
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PR is clearing up all the shits & corrupted deals done by the previous state government. It is damned hopeless for BN now.
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No point to point fingers….just lick your fingers…..anyway,Why all the parties in Malaysia did not unite how to solve the Landslide problem.Every political parties busy with their party restaurant and office at the Bukit Antarabangsa.Let’s Unite and be united as Malaysian.Kita jangan bermain politik pada tiap-tiap hari kelak merana diri.
Thank You
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