Highland Towers name will remain after redevelopment

KUALA LUMPUR (March 19): The name Highland Towers will be retained even after the land is redeveloped, said Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

"The name Highland Towers will remain as it is part of history," she was quoted saying in the Malay Mail today.

The site has been abandoned for 26 years after a deadly landslide on Dec 11, 1993 led to the collapse of one of the three towers, killing 48 residents.

The strategically-located land in Ulu Klang, Selangor is now planned to be redeveloped into a recreational park with 50 bungalows.

Zuraida said the development will commence after the status of the 10 remaining property owners has been resolved and the two remaining apartment blocks are demolished.

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"This coming April 4 will be the case management to write off the 10 owners once we have cleared them. If they don't make any claims, we will move on to the next stage.

"In the long run, the developer plans to develop a recreational park and 50 bungalows around it as it is not a high-risk development, and the park will benefit the area's residents," the Ampang MP announced. 

The report in the land safety prepared by the Highland Towers Redevelopment Committe will be ready in the first week of May, Zuraida added.

The committee, made up of expert and representatives from 10 major stakeholders, including federal, state and local authorities, is responsible for researching, analysing, evaluating, monotoring and executing the proposed redevelopment plan of the site. 

Last September, Zuraida announced that the two remaining towers, which have become a haunt for robbers and drug addicts, will finally be brought down, much to the relief of nearby residents.