SO RICH! Jamaluddin Jarjis willing to sacrifice bungalow

KUALA LUMPUR- DATUK Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis, whose bungalow could be demolished to avoid landslips in Puncak Setiawangsa, is willing to sacrifice his home for the sake of public safety.

Jamaluddin, who is Rompin member of parliament, said the safety of residents who live at the base of the hill was of utmost priority.

"I'm willing to sacrifice my house for their safety. Public interest is the priority here. I'm just one individual.

"The Malaysian Public Works Institute (Ikram) is looking into the technical aspect, and if the recommendation is to have the slope improved to 45 degree from the current 73 degree, I'm willing to give up my house," he said.

Setiawangsa MP Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, who may also lose his bungalow, said his family, however, hoped their home would not be demolished.

"We have lived here for 16 years and I hope we can continue to stay here," he said after the briefing session between Puncak Setiawangsa residents and authorities yesterday.

"We are awaiting Ikram's decision. Let's see whether there is a need to tear down our house."

Ikram chief operating officer Taufik Harun had yesterday said there was a possibility the two bungalows, belonging to Jamaluddin and Zulhasnan, may have to be demolished to create a buffer zone for the other houses on top of the hill.

Taufik had said that based on City Hall's new guidelines, there need be a minimum 4.5m buffer zone from a house to the slope.

Residents, who had evacuated their houses following the landslip on Friday, were told by authorities yesterday that they could be allowed to return after remedial works on the slope are completed.

Zulhasnan said the remedial works would be completed in six stages, which included the demolition of the damaged bungalow structures, removal of hanging anchored blocks, shortcrete works and the setting up of concrete blocks.

"The remedial works are necessary as a short-term measure to ensure that the slope is safe," he said, adding that residents had given a positive response on the latest updates during the briefing session.

He said a memorandum to the cabinet to request for government aid for the victims would be submitted next Wednesday, while a meeting between shoplot owners and the Puncak Setiawangsa developer would be held tomorrow.

"The residents also raised their concerns about the safety of their vacant houses. We have made a request to the residents' association and the police to get every vehicle and person entering this area to be registered, so that the risk of looting can be minimised."

Meanwhile, Sentul deputy police chief Superintendent Othman Abu Bakar said the demolition works on the damaged bungalow was progressing well.

He said as of yesterday, the workers had finished tearing down its roof, front wall and gate.

- New Straits Times