Highland Towers demolition may solve residents' problems – Assemblyman
Many complaints regarding security concerns, disturbances and immoral activities were reported in the area.
HULU KELANG - The demolition of two blocks in Highland Towers is expected to resolve the complaints raised by the community living around the abandoned building.
Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Mohd Kamri Kamaruddin said the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) has received many complaints regarding security concerns, disturbances and immoral activities in the area.
Following that, on Saturday, he said a visit with MPAJ President Dr Ani Ahmad and the agencies involved was held to find a solution to the complaint.
"This issue is still in discussion. The main possibility is that this abandoned building will be demolished because they don't see any other option (in solving the issues).
"The main objective is to resolve the complaint and after it is demolished, then think about what will be done in the area," he told Sinar on Sunday.
He was met at the first gotong-royong programme for the preparation of Ramadan at the Bukit Antarabangsa Mosque here.
Kamri said this when asked to comment on the demolition status of the abandoned building.
In the collapse tragedy on Dec 11, 1993, one of the three condominium blocks of Highland Towers collapsed, claiming 48 lives.
Since then, the site has been abandoned and has become a hotbed of drug addiction and social problems that cause discomfort among local residents.
Following that, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin while holding the position of Housing and Local Government Minister in 2019 said that the abandoned building would be demolished.
Zuraida suggested that the site be redeveloped as a recreational park location since the soil structure in the area involved is not suitable for housing construction.
Meanwhile, Ani through the MPAJ's monthly full meeting held recently said that the local authority would issue a notice to the owner of the property involved to demolish the structure.
Ani said the notice would be sent to Highland Properties Sdn Bhd as the owner of the site and the Malaysian Insolvency Department as the liquidator of the company.
He said if the company failed to take action (demolition), MPAJ would begin the process of obtaining a court order to carry out the demolition.
He said the demolition was expected after August if there were no objections in court and the cost of the demolition is estimated to be between RM6 million to RM7 million.
