From Malaysia Kini

By Rahmah Ghazali

Although Selangor has chosen not to disclose the Hazard Map report, there will however be a move to push the federal government to unveil the red-taped findings.

According to PKR’s Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, she will submit a motion in Parliament to urge the federal government to reveal the report.

The Hazardous Map report, which was released on Sept 11 – earlier than the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide report – to Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), indicates the level of risk in residential areas in Hulu Klang.

“We still push (for its declassification) as it will give better information and more accurate action (to be undertaken by us). Otherwise, we would be (moving) here and there by guessing and that is not good enough.

“So our next move in Parliament, we will work on the Hazard Map report,” she told reporters after attending the first anniversary event to remember the Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy today.

Furthermore, based on the information that Zuraida has obtained, the Hazard Map report identified 77 ‘high landslide prone’ areas across Hulu Kelang and therefore it needs to be looked into.

“It will allow us to take a more holistic approach rather than on an ad-hoc basis,” she explained.

Yesterday, state exco Ronnie Liu told Malaysiakini that the state government has refrained from disclosing the report as they would leave it to the federal government to do so.

Liu also said the state government has set up a task force to look at these high-risk areas based on the report which was released under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

Residents set up committees

Meanwhile, following the cabinet’s move to declassify the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide report, residents have decided to establish several committees which among others, would study the report.

“In order for us to be effective, we are setting up two sets of committees, one is to study the details of the report so we can take the next course of action and the other one is to look into the affected victims and those living in fear,” said Sharul Teh, president of Coalition of Bukit Antarabangsa Residents Association (Cobara).

On the same note, Zuraida also urged residents to set up another committee that specifically looks into their request on compensation.
Resident Ungku Farid Ungku Abd Rahman, who had lost his maid during the landslide, said he would give a ‘time frame’ for the relevant authorities to provide compensation to the residents.

“Otherwise, we would seek legal action. I have lost everything since the tragedy and I can fight for this if I want to,” he said.

Another resident Syed Taha Syed Mohamad however urged the authorities to re-build the affected residents’ houses with the RM70 million the government has allocated to the residential area.

“For instance, if one house costs around RM450,000 and if they were to build 14 houses…the cost will not be more than RM11 million and they still have more left. That is why I am confident that the federal government could pay the residents back,” he said.

The disaster funds organiser Ismail Kijo said he would meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and ask him to witness the latest development in Bukit Antarabangsa.

The Ampang Umno division chief also vowed convey all the grouses to the premier and federal government.