Nong Chik denies giving redress for landslide victims

The government is not involved in giving compensation to residents of Puncak Setiawangsa and the neighbouring areas after their homes were declared unsafe for occupancy following the landslide there, said Federal Territory and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.    

He said owners of the buildings that were involved in the demolition or the residents nearby who were ordered to move out would not be paid any compensation by the government.

“The matter should be resolved between the developers and the purchasers themselves because they had bought property in highly risky areas,” he said when approached by reporters at the site of the landslide in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Raja Nong Chik said the responsibility of the government was to ensure the safety of the residents and to provide assistance.

“The question of the government’s liability does not arise, this incident was beyond expectation,” he said.

Raja Nong Chik said the owners had the right to send any memorandum on claims.

“If the government has to bear responsibility, I feel it will be unfair to the people who pay taxes,” he said.

In the incident at about 10pm last Friday, the concrete wall erected on the hill slopes, measuring 50 to 60 metres high, collapsed resulting in several homes, including those belonging to VIPs, in Puncak Setiawangsa being affected.

More than 200 residents affected by the incident were reported to have moved to a safer place.

- Bernama