MPAJ awaits green light to demolish Highland Towers

An aerial view of Highland Towers in Hulu Kelang. — Filepic
A DECISION on whether the remaining blocks of Highland Towers in Hulu Kelang, Selangor, can be demolished is expected in two months.
The Ampang Magistrate Court is set to deliver its decision on July 25.
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) filed for a court order last year to proceed with the demolition of two long-abandoned blocks.
MPAJ deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said the local council must wait for the court's ruling.
'Once the court delivers its verdict, MPAJ has to inform the state government.
'Only after receiving the state government's input can MPAJ move forward,' he said after chairing the local council's monthly full board meeting at Menara MPAJ in Pandan Indah yesterday.
Hasrolnizam says MPAJ must wait for court's ruling.
Last year, MPAJ initiated the process to demolish the remaining blocks, following multiple complaints from neighbouring residents.
Then president Dr Ani Ahmad had said MPAJ would issue a notice to the property owners to demolish the structures.
She had also said due process would be carried out according to Sections 87, 88 and 89 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133).
These relate to nuisances (Sections 87 and 88) and demolition of a house unfit for habitation (Section 89).
At the time, she said the demolition was estimated to cost between RM6mil and RM7mil.
On Dec 11, 1993, one of the three Highland Towers blocks collapsed, killing 48 in the nation's worst housing tragedy.
Residents of the two remaining towers were evacuated for safety reasons and eventually, the area was abandoned.
In 2018 then Housing and Local Government minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the site would be turned into a recreational park after demolition of the remaining towers, as the area was unsuitable for any structure.
However, this failed to materialise.
Separately, Hasrolnizam said RM7.5mil had been set aside for upgrading and maintenance works this year, as part of MPAJ's people-centric development approach.
He said the allocation aligned with the recent assessment tax revision, which saw an increase in rates.
'Some of the planned projects include upgrading food courts and markets, as well as maintaining facilities at recreational areas,' he said.
Selangor local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim had recently instructed all local councils to improve infrastructure and services with the increased revenue.
Ng added that local councils had been directed to carry out between five and 10 short- and long-term projects as part of the revision.
In addition to MPAJ's funds, Hasrolnizam said a total allocation of RM25mil from state and Federal governments would be used to support various improvement projects.
This includes RM20.3mil under the Malaysian Road Records Information System allocation.
He said part of a RM4.8mil allocation from the Federal Government would be used for 21 projects to construct new bus-stops and pedestrian walkways.

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