HILL DISASTER

THE Highland Towers consist of three 12-storey blocks, built in phases between 1974 and 1982 at the base of a steep hill. The three blocks were located near a creek. Block 1 crumbled on Dec 11, 1993 when its car park retaining wall collapsed following 10

CHRONOLOGY 1993 • Dec 11:

Block 1 of the Highland Towers collapses at 1.35pm. Search-and-rescue (SAR) operations begin.

Three people are rescued, an Indonesian woman, Umi Rashidah Khoruman, 22, her daughter, Nur Hamidah Najib, 18 months old, and a Japanese woman, Shizue Nakajima, 50, who later dies at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).

• Dec 12:

Residents of Blocks 2 and 3 are evacuated after their homes are declared unsafe.

• Dec 13:

Selangor assembly approves a new committee to probe into the tragedy, orders freeze of high-rise projects.

• Dec 15:

Rescue team finds six bodies.

• Dec 16:

Umi Rashidah and Nur Hamidah are released from HKL.

• Dec 20:

A total of 25 bodies are found so far. The government freezes new hillslope projects.

• Dec 22:

• Dec 24:

Government decides against a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Highland Towers tragedy.

1994 • June 23:

Cabinet lifts temporary ban on hillslope projects.

• July 4:

Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) releases report on tragedy.

1995

Technical studies reveal that Blocks 2 and 3 are unsafe and have to be demolished.

1997

Coroner’s Court rules the tragedy as a misadventure, not due to a natural disaster.

2004

AmFinance Bhd agrees to settle all lawsuits with RM52 million paid to 139 owners.

2006

Federal Court rules MPAJ is not liable for the collapse of Block 1.

2010 • Dec 11:

The History Channel shows an hour-long documentary in conjunction with the 17th anniversary of the disaster.

2013

• Oct 31:

A local horror movie, ‘Highland Tower’, is released by Metrowealth Pictures.

• Dec 3:

Ambank (M) Bhd tenders Highland Towers land for sale.

2016

• MARCH 28:

Survivors, Umi Rashidah, and daughter, Nur Hamidah, reunite with rescuers.

• APRIL 12:

Police shoot dead three of six robbers who are hiding at the abandoned site.

2017

Ambank (M) Bhd puts up notice of sale of Highland Towers again.

2018 • June 5:

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin says the government plans to turn the site into a recreational park.

2019

• March 8:

Zuraida says the Highland Towers’ blocks will be demolished by June.

• March 19:

Zuraida announces the site will be redeveloped into a recreational park with 50 bungalows, with the report on land safety prepared by the Highland Towers Redevelopment Committee to be ready in May.