Declassify the landslide report, residents tell gov't
The federal government's refusal to disclose the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide investigation report is causing much agony to residents who lost their homes in the tragedy a year ago.
The federal government's refusal to disclose the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide investigation report is causing much agony to residents who lost their homes in the tragedy a year ago.
A visibly upset resident Dr Mohd Rafick Abdul Rahman made an emotional plea to the government to declassify the report and said it would help change their lives drastically.
"We have to see this from two different angles. One is for the people affected directly, and two, the potential risks to the people still living there," he said at a press conference in Parliament.
The aftermath of the tragedy had affected the residents to a point where they had to worry about their families' safety every time they leave their houses.
"When we wake up in the morning and go to work, we worry about their safety, especially whenever it rains...I don't understand why politics is causing havoc to our lives," said Rafick.
According to him, there are not many options left for the residents to choose from even if they were forced to abandon their homes.
"I'm talking as a person who has no other options. If we can abandon our houses, we would have done it. But we have no choice because we have bank loans to serve.
"So our option is to know the risks. The government must release two reports, (one on the landslide) and the other the Ampang-Hulu Klang landslide hazard report," he said.
Rafick also urged the government to "not play politics at the expense of ordinary people".
"Let us make our own decision and study the reports. Besides, the Works Minister (Shaziman Abu Mansor) could just use his power under Section 2 (c) of the Official Secrets Act to declassify the report," he said.
No harm in releasing report
Another resident, residents committee president Syahrul Teh said that there is no harm in releasing the report, as it would actually benefit the residents on what they should do.
"We just want to know what happened. We don't want a repeat of such incidents...releasing the report would show us what needs to be done," he said.
Meanwhile, Impiana Selatan Condominium committee president Syed Azman Al-Bukhary assured that they don't have a sinister agenda behind the call for the report to be declassified.
"All we want is for the safety of the residents. If these reports help, we should release it. Whoever is the cause of the landslide should be investigated and if found liable, should be charged," he said.
"Besides, somebody has to own up. I wonder, what is the government doing? Just release the report and let the people see for themselves," he said.
Syed Azman said that the Bukit Antarabangsa residents are organising remembrance do to commemorate the first year anniversary of the landslide on Dec 6.
The landslide had claimed five lives, destroyed 14 houses and injured many others.
Also at the press conference were Zuraida Kamaruddin (PKR-Ampang) and Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang).
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