Thesun 2008-12-22 Page04 Selangor To Aid Landslide Victims

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theSun

| MONDAY DECEMBER 22 2008

news without borders

Selangor to aid landslide victims by Charles Ramendran [email protected]

KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor government will give monetary aid and housing at subsidised rates to the 269 families affected by the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide on Dec 6. Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who made the announcement yesterday, after meeting the affected residents at the landslide site, said the state government has come up with both short and long-term plans for them. The state government had received a report from the Public Works Department on Friday on the status of the affected houses. Khalid said out of the 269 affected families, 174 have been allowed to return to their homes. They can seek the help of the local authorities stationed at the site for transportation to ferry their belongings. He said 14 families lost their houses which were either buried or badly damaged while the remaining 81 families have been barred from returning to their homes due to their unsafe state. He said the 81 families may have to wait at least a month for a further report on the ongoing evaluation on the structures and hillslope. He said the state government will give each of the 81 families up to RM1,000 a month to temporarily rent a house until they get the green light to return to their homes. Khalid said the Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) has also offered 14 houses in Cheras to them at a rental of RM100 for the first three months and RM500 for each subsequent month. He said the children from all 269 families who are studying between pre-school and Form Five will each receive a RM120 voucher sponsored by the PKNS for the purchase of their schooling necessities. He said the state government

will also give relief of RM500 to the disabled and those whose income is below RM1,500 for the next three months. The 14 families who lost their houses will be offered a discount of between 10% and 15% if they purchase a property from PKNS. Khalid said the families whose loved ones were killed in the disaster will also receive a consolation sum of RM5,000 while those who suffered injuries will be given RM1,500 each. “This special relief we are giving out may not commensurate with what those affected had gone through but we have tried to do our best for all parties involved,” he said, adding those who require the relief could apply for it at the information centres set up close to their respective homes which will operate

for three days from today. He said 15 hillslope residential estates in the district of Ampang have been identified as landslide prone. The districts of Gombak, Hulu Langat, Hulu Selangor and Petaling have also been found to be at risk of soil erosion. Khalid said land owners should be aware that the monitoring of hillslopes in the area is their responsibility. “We will write to the owners of such land to remind them of this responsibility. Then at least they can calculate the risks involved before deciding to erect a building on a hillslope,” he said. The initiative drew mixed reactions from the 100 residents who turned up for the meeting. Engineer K.N. Wong, whose house was cleared as safe, said his

family will return to their home although his place is just 100m from where the soil erosion had begun. Asked why he was returning and whether he felt it was still risky to occupy his house, he said: “It’s a 5050 feeling but I have lived here for 21 years and my family and children grew up here. The authorities have assured us it is safe to return and we are taking their word for it.” Bukit Antarabangsa Action Committee secretary Raymond Jegathesan said the affected residents are happy that Khalid kept his word last week that he will return with a solution for those affected within a week. However, he said those affected had expected a better deal such as higher discounts for the houses offered for sale.

A resident, Madam Xu, puts up a painting of the Chinese character jia (home) after receiving the green light to return to her house in Bukit Antarabangsa yesterday.

Penang issues stop work order on two hillslope projects GEORGE TOWN: Stop-work orders have been issued against two hillslope development projects in Tanjung Bungah following complaints from residents. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said yesterday he has met with the residents and issued

the stop-work orders against the developers due to safety issues. “There are many issues that need to be taken into consideration to ensure sustainable development.” He said the residents have some issues on slope safety and slope treatment that require attention.

While declining to name the projects, Lim said he wants the parties involved to come to an arrangement or agreement. “We want to see that guidelines are followed, rules are observed and we want to impose more stringent requirements and regulations to have a high level

assurance of safety for residents.” Lim said he wants the parties involved to discuss the issues in an amicable manner. Independent hillslope development panel member Prof Dr Eric Goh will attend the discussion sessions with the developers next week, he said.

Perak: National disaster act can be misused by Humayun Kabir [email protected]

IPOH: The Perak government is against the proposal to introduce a National Disaster Emergency Act which is seen as an act by the federal government to take control of Pakatan Rakyat-led state governments by declaring political motivated emergencies in these states. “The Pakatan Rakyat state government can cooperate with the federal government in case of natural disasters occurring in the state without the need for such an act,” Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin told reporters yesterday. “I believe the state is capable of managing such catastrophes by cooperating with the relevant authorities in charge of natural disasters without the need for such an act which can be misused by the federal government to take control of Pakatan Rakyat-led states,” he said after officiating the state mosque officers association’s 12th annual general meeting here. There are adequate federal laws in the country to control such disasters, he said in response to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s statement that the federal government may consider such an act in order for federal agencies to coordinate natural disasters that occur in Pakatan Rakyatled states. The minister was reported as saying that with such an act, an emergency can be declared when there is a disaster so that federal government can take charge. Nazri, who is a member of the National Disaster Relief Committee, had said the act will also curb hoarding of essential supplies and control traders in the distribution of such supplies.