‘Highland Towers’ name to remain after redevelopment

The Housing and Local Government Ministry today stated that the ‘Highland Towers’ name will remain even after the redevelopment of the site, as the name is part of history.

Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the government was mooting the construction bungalows and a recreational park at the site of the Highland Towers condominium – one block of which collapsed over 25 years ago – and surrounding areas.

“I was told that the Insolvency Department is in the midst of efforts to acquire the land from the owners. The case management is for April 4.

“If the department is able to take over the land, then we can send a report to the court to decide on the demolition,” she told reporters at the Parliament lobby today after chairing a Committee on the Redevelopment of Highland Towers meeting.

The committee comprises government agencies including the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), Works Department, Insolvency Department, and the Land and Mines Office, as well as other agencies.

Case management, meanwhile, involves 10 homeowners from blocks B and C of the condominium.

“The landowner has an illustration on building a (recreational) park and bungalows at the surrounding areas of the site.

“We still have to wait for the court decision before any action can be taken. However, the name ‘Highland Towers’ will be preserved, as it is part of history,” said Zuraida, who is also the Ampang MP.

The 1993 collapse of Block A of the Highland Towers in Ulu Klang killed 48 people.

The two remaining blocks were to have been demolished recently, but had to be delayed as MPAJ needed more time to examine the structural integrity of the buildings.

It was also reported that the government had plans to build a low-cost housing project at the site after the affected land had been acquired and legal issues with buyers of the condominium units had been resolved. - Mkini