#Exclusive* Stop work orders remain for hill slope projects in KL

KUALA LUMPUR: Stop work orders for hill slope developments in Kuala Lumpur remain in force, Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin told theedgeproperty.com on May 19.

“We’re still waiting for the Cabinet to make the decision on the other projects,” Raja Nong Chik said. Aside from United Malayan Land Bhd (UM Land)’s project in Bukit Ceylon, the status quo remains for other hill slope developments in Kuala Lumpur.

UM Land’s 34-storey condominium project was given the go-ahead by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on April 22 to continue construction, following a stop work order on hill slope developments in Kuala Lumpur after the tragic Bukit Antarabangsa landslide in 2008. The project is expected to be completed by December 2012.

According to recent reports, UM Land CEO Pee Tong Lim said studies on the project carried out by the Public Works Institute of Malaysia (Ikram), engaged by DBKL, showed that it was safe for the company to continue with the development. Pee said the main building was designed to be built on the flat side of the land, while the car park structure will further strengthen the slope. The soil condition, he said, was suitable for high-rise development.

When asked about the Ministry’s stand on hill slope developments, Raja Nong Chik said: “We cannot stop developments as there are so many hill slopes in Kuala Lumpur, but the interest of the residents around the area need to be protected.”

One of the developments affected by the government freeze on hill slope developments in Kuala Lumpur is Selangor Dredging Bhd (SDB)’s Damansara 21 project in Damansara Heights, consisting of 21 bungalows tagged from RM10 million.

“We are still awaiting the decision from DBKL, as we have not heard anything with regards to our Damansara 21 project,” SDB communications and corporate affairs manager Lina Othman told theedgeproperty.com on May 19.