Highland Towers tragedy: Survivors say time to put the past behind

KUALA LUMPUR- The trio stood there, staring blankly at the abandoned blocks, partly covered by the secondary forest surrounding it.

Their way was barred by blue corrugated iron sheets, secured by a length of chain and padlock.

The air hung heavy with sadness as they recalled that tragic day 20 years ago. But there was also a sense of longing, not just for loved ones lost, but for the ability to move on.

And moving on they must, for even in those abandoned blocks, stripped of all accoutrements as they are at present, might no longer be around when Dec 11 comes again next year.

That, perhaps, is the real tragedy of the Highland Towers collapse, which killed 48 people.

When approached, all three seemed reluctant to talk at first. Perhaps they were tired of being interviewed and having to relive the horrors of that fateful day when not just the 12-storey Block A collapsed, but the whole world around them.

But with AmBank Group, which held the rights to the property, putting up the land for sale, what physical remains of the past might soon be cleared.

One of the visitors, former Highland Towers Residents Committee secretary Chan Keng Fook, admitted it was time to put the past behind and move on while holding on to fond memories.

The 56-year-old did not lose any family members in the tragedy, but knew many, if not all, of those who lost their lives.

He said the memory of children shrieking with laughter and mischief while playing along the corridors of Block A, remained fresh in his mind.

"Adults also had their moments here as well. I clearly remember Mrs Shinzue Nakajima, a Japanese lady who enjoyed taking her dog for a walk around the premises every day.

"Her smile and benevolence reflected the type of residents who lived at the apartments. We were surrounded by the sound of nature and scenic greenery," said Chan, his hand grasping a poster containing the names and pictures of those who perished.

The poster was created six months after the tragedy and Chan had been bringing it with him every year when he visited the place.

He said 50-year-old Nakajima was pulled out alive from the debris but succumbed to her injuries later at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

He also remembered three bubbly boys -- Gene, Brandon and Daryl Koh, aged 16, 6 and 2, respectively.

Their parents had left them with their aunt and her husband, Koh Yuet Mei, 49, and Ong Yong @ Ow Yong, 53. Their mother had gone into labour and needed someone to baby-sit them.

The boys, their aunt and uncle, and cousin Ong Tee Meng, 17, all died in the tragedy.

It was Tee Meng's best friend who came to visit the Highland Towers site yesterday.

The 37-year-old, who wanted only to be known as Sethu, was there to pay his last respects to his buddy.

"We had just completed our Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination and were waiting for our results. We had plans for some outings and I spoke to him on Friday (the day before the incident) at 1.30pm.

"Twenty-four hours later, I found out that Tee Meng and his family were involved in a tragedy and he was no longer here.

"Although it has been 20 years, no one can replace the memories he and I shared over the years," said the engineer with teary eyes.

Like Chan, Sethu also clutched something from the past -- old newspaper clippings of the incident, and pictures of him and Tee Meng.

Chan said the last memorial for the victims was held 10 years ago as the families had collectively decided to move on and achieve closure.

Chan and Sethu, when asked about their views on plans to redevelop the site, said they were happy that people had decided to move on.

However, they registered unhappiness over a movie titled Highland Tower, which was released on Oct 31.

"It is totally disrespectful to the memory of the victims and the deceased.

"The 'ghosts' or 'spirits' in the movie are not strangers, but those whom we loved and lost.

"It is unthinkable that these people are using this dreadful event for sensationalism and profit," said Chan.

Shot in the style of the 1999's hit The Blair Witch Project, the movie depicted a "documentary style" filming of supposed haunting at the Highland Towers site.

The third person standing outside the site was too distraught to speak.

Understandably so, considering that unlike Chan and Sethu, who lost only friends, Dr P.G. George lost his entire family.

Dr George, his wife, Dr Anne George, and their daughters, Debbie and Sharon, aged 5 and 2, respectively, had returned from India the day before the incident. He was away at work when Block A came crashing down.

It was said to have toppled over because a massive amount of soil, made viscous by a number of factors, including a development project further up Bukit Antarabangsa, had rammed into the foundation of the apartment block.

The 139 residents of the two other blocks were initially allowed to stay but were later evacuated, and the entire complex was abandoned for safety reasons.

Name list of those 48 people who perished during the Highland Towers tragedy

Carlos Rashid Musa, 32 (son of former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Musa Hitam) and his wife, Rosina Datuk Abu Bakar, 38.

Quah Li Jun (6 weeks)

Judith Mosquiter, 33

Fergus Phang Thien Liang, 26, his mother Ivy Lim Ai Bee, 56 and grandmother, Cheng Kim Tai, 84

Yussna Anuar, 35

Datin Milly Lee, 55

Dr Anne George, 38 and her two daughters Debbie George, 5 and Sharon George, 2

Bahk Jung Sook, 45, and her daughter Bahk Hee Won 17.

Mariam Abdul Majid, 78 and her sister Fatimah Abdul Majid, 65

Nik Baharuddin Wan Mahamood, 41

Anirah Mohd Nor, 15

Ong Yong@OwYong, 53, wife Koh Yuet Mei 49, son Ong Tee Meng, 17 and 3 nephews Gene Koh 16, Brandon Koh 6 and Daryl Koh, 2.

Rohana Bano, 29 and son Mohd Adam, 6 months.

Robin Wharton, 44

Chiew Poh Wah, 55

Aribinda Datta, 42 and wife Rita Datta, 35

Maznah Majnawiyah Masnawi, 29

Teo Tea, 89

Radha Chandran 55

Prakash Chandran 35

Sajjive Chandran 32

Shinzue Nakajima, 50 (rescued alive, died in hospital)

Tonny Lou Yoke Yong 38

Lee Mun Lin, 28

Adrian Lou Chung Wei 3

Barry Lou Ka Wei, 1

Suharti Kusban, 40

Wong Mee Thai, 35

Yap Hiao Mei, 20,

Yap Kien Seng, 19

Yap Woei Ning 5

Goh Fong Kiew, 34

Trimah Ngarijo, 35