By Jennifer Gomez and Evangeline Majawat

Residents living near hillside developments are keeping a close watch on the weather and activities on the hills. The recent landslide tragedy in Bukit Antarabangsa still fresh on their minds, they hope the local authorities will strictly monitor the developers.

Reporters visited residents whose homes are close to hillside projects in Taman Melawati, Bukit Antarabangsa and Cheras, all under the purview of the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, to hear their views. Developers also give their response.

BUKIT ANTARABANGSA

WHEN housewife Rofidah Mat Tahir bought a house in the area, the developer reassured buyers that no new project would be launched as it was a water catchment area.

The developer, MBf Holdings Bhd, added that the area would remain green.

That was 16 years ago and Rofidah paid RM127,000 for her double-storey terraced house on Jalan Mulia 2/4, less than 1km from the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide site.

Now, every time it rains, she can't sleep.

Worse, a landslip just outside her house has progressively worsened in the past year.

Calls to Ampang Jaya Municipal Council to rectify the situation went unheeded, until last week, when the Public Works Department put a plastic sheet over it.

"We don't know what is going on. Given what had happened here, my neighbours and I feel that the local authority should keep us informed."

One of her neighbours, Mary, said the PWD only came as a "favour" to a resident who called a "friend in the department".

"All they did was to put a plastic sheet. This is not going to help the situation. They must find a solution."

Mary added that the problem was caused by someone who had cut the slope.

"It was to make an access road.

"Monitoring must be beefed up, if not it's going to be a serious problem for the entire country."

Azlin Ashaari bought a double-storey house in the area two years ago for RM300,000.

And now, she has to live with the worry of landslides, as moving out is not an option.

"There is the loan to think of. We can't just move now," the 40-year-old banker said.

She said there must be more control on hillside developments in the Bukit Antarabangsa area.

"I know that developers are building because there is demand for hilltop homes, but it must be weighed carefully with safety aspects."

TAMAN MELAWATI

"THAT development is going to come tumbling down some day."

Retiree Lim Boon Pin did not mince words when asked about the Bukit Melawati project by Symbol Vintage Development Sdn Bhd. His house at Taman Melawati Phase 10 is adjacent to the project.

"It should not have been approved in the first place," Lim said.

"During a downpour, the road leading to the project is flooded."

Less than 2km away, two luxury projects -- 20trees by SDB Properties Sdn Bhd and Amberhill by Pembinaan Asmegah Sdn Bhd -- are causing worries to residents of Taman Melawati Phase 7.

Businessman Herbert Lai is not convinced about the safety of both projects.

"I heard that one of the developers allocated RM5 million to drill the solid granite hill.

"We cannot predict what will happen 20 years from now. All I can say is the hills behind Highland Towers were safe when the development was new but that changed over the years."

But Lai said as long as no new development was approved for the hillside, it was acceptable.

"If any new project goes ahead, the local authority must ensure that the most stringent regulations are followed."

Zairani Zainuddin, whose parents live just a stone's throw away, shared Lai's sentiments.

She said hillside developments should be allowed only if developers, engineers and the authorities followed strict guidelines.

"We could learn so much from Hong Kong. Their land is covered with hills, too, but it hasn't stopped them from developing it safely.

"Even America has good guidelines for hillside development. We should learn from them. In those countries, the buildings not only have to withstand rain but also heavy snow and gales."

She said homeowners should take ownership of and responsibility for the hills they live on.

"If we have to pay a fee to ensure that the hills are continuously maintained and taken care of, then we should."

CHERAS

BUSINESSMAN Hasani Abdul Rahman, 42, looked dejected when asked about the hillside projects near his home in Jalan Bukit Permai 2.

"We took our concerns eight years ago to the local authorities when Panorama Vista was coming up but our complaints fell on deaf ears," he said.

The projects near his home are IJM Properties Sdn Bhd's Monte Bayu and Taman Bukit Permai by Perkuat Kuari Sdn Bhd.

Hasani, who has been living in the area for 11 years, wants to move out of the area, but the slowing economy is preventing him from doing so.

"I would like to move and live in Shah Alam but now is not the time. I can only hope that the developers here play by the rules."

RESPONSE FROM MUTIARA GOODYEAR DEVELOPMENT

MUTIARA Goodyear Development Bhd managing director Edmond Yung said it had not neglected any safety aspects.

The company is developing a project near Kemensah Heights through its subsidiary, Twin Ridge Sdn Bhd.

He said, however, the planned launch of its super-link and bungalow homes had been deferred until "the site looks better".

"Earthworks will, however, continue because if we stop now, it will be a disaster. We are following all the guidelines in place."

He said the gradient of the slope in the site ranged between Class 2 and Class 4. The Selangor government has banned development on Class 3 and 4 slopes, which involves those with 25- and 35-degree angles.

RESPONSE FROM IJM PROPERTIES AND PERKUAT KUARI

IJM is developing three projects on hillsides within Ampang Jaya Municipal Council's jurisdiction -- Monte Bayu and Sh'ng Villa in Cheras, and Serenia Gardens in Ukay Heights.

"We have a team of geotechnical experts advising us throughout the various stages of construction, so there is nothing to be afraid of," IJM Land Bhd managing director Datuk Soam Heng Choon said.

Upon completion of the project, its consultants would draw up a list of guidelines for Monte Bayu's management corporation.

"We will pass on a list of dos and don'ts for residents in Monte Bayu, like what is being done in Hong Kong."

Developer Perkuat Kuari Sdn Bhd, which is developing the Taman Bukit Permai project in Cheras, also does not anticipate any problems with its decade-long project.

A spokesperson for the developer said the project, spread over 40 hectares, has been ongoing for the last 10 years.

"Our site (an elevated rock hill) is not classified as risky, and we have completed many properties here, including terraced houses."

The developer will launch bungalows next year.

RESPONSE FROM SDB PROPERTIES

THE hillside where 20trees is being developed is no longer a slope.

"The profile of the hill has been completely changed. We worked closely with our geotechnical and structural consultants to come up with a design to tier and terrace the site and build platforms wide enough to accommodate the houses," said Lina Othman, communications and corporate affairs manager of developer SDB Properties Sdn Bhd.

"We have removed the soil so the units sit on a flat bedrock. At areas where the land is of different levels, the safety factor has been reinforced by retaining walls."

She said purchasers have been informed about the design aspect and safety issues.

"The geotechnical engineer's margins are based on the most conservative recommendations set by the Hong Kong geoguide."

About RM40 million has been spent on infrastructure and retaining walls. The developer would also be contributing a sum of money into a sinking fund for long-term maintenance.

Lina added that since 20 trees was sited higher than its surrounding lots and is founded on rocks, it was unlikely to be affected by soil movements in neighbouring developments further down the hill. The Bukit Antarabangsa landslide site is about 6km from 20 trees.

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