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from The Star Online today:

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Majority of Bkt Antarabangsa residents can return home (Updated)

SHAH ALAM: The majority of Bukit Antarabangsa residents will be allowed to return to their homes in the landslide-hit area.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim told reporters here on Friday that this was based on the preliminary findings of the Public Works Institute of Malaysia and the Public Works Department (PWD) following the landslide tragedy on Dec 6, which killed four people and destroyed 14 houses.

The report was handed to Khalid here about 12.45pm on Friday.

He, however, said he had not read the report in full yet, saying only that most of the residents in the five affected areas would be able to return to their homes.

“The Gombak District officer and MPAJ president will now study the report in full. I will make an announcement on Sunday at the site of the landslide,” added Khalid, who did say when the residents could return to their homes.

He said the Gombak District Officer and MPAJ president would go to the landslide site on Saturday to identify the houses that would have to be abandoned.

Some 3,000 Bukit Antarabangsa residents had been waiting cautiously for the report as it would determine whether they would have to abandon their homes.

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Welcome home, homies!!!
Next course of action will be to pull all Resident Associations from the various BA 'tamans' to gather and discuss future Crisis Management Procedures. 6 December 2008 is a lesson learnt.

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E.T.'s view of the whole fiasco.....

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Alternative Route Pix

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Alternative Route Time Table
Bkt. Antarabangsa Housing (BAH) - Alternative Route (AR)

AM
0700 - 0800hr BAH - AR
0801 - 0830hr AR - BAH
0831 - 0900hr BAH - AR

PM
1700 - 1800hr BAH - AR
1801 - 1830hr AR - BAH
1831 - 1900hr BAH - AR

The above is to avoid congestion and chaos. In between those times, I guess there will be traffic coordinators.Please give cooperation to the authorities.Residents currently outside of BAH, please follow these peak hour times.

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The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good

i. Taman Bukit Utama 2/ Tropicana Residents - They are so well organized in setting up a proper food distributing centre for the surrounding community. My hats off to them especially En. Razak, En. Raja and many more unnamed heroes.
ii. Dr. Rafick (Medicine Man) - He is the man when it comes to air evac ( a term i heard him said) referring to air evacuation. Finally, I get to meet him personally after following his blog, Rights 2 Write.
iii. Power - Approx. 1730hr today, 8.12.2008, power was fully restored to the surrounding areas. Its not so much about the darkness, but the boredom during the day that is killing, since internet is limited only to how long the battery last. At night, its colder than any other nights, partly due to no heat is generated from the various electrical appliances, moving cars, and street lights. Thats another topic that I shall explore when all this is over. About heat and the sub-urban fabric.

The Bad

i.Blur Authorities - Seriously, up until now, there is no Head of Command in charge of the tragedy. This is a national crisis and all those agency needs a head figure. Jabatan Pertahanan Awam, Bomba and the Police seemed to be running independently. This created a lot of confusion among the residents. Some residents were granted permission by one agency to trekk out to buy supplies were refused to re-enter Bukit Antarabangsa by another.
ii. SMS - Bukit Antarabangsa residents specifically those who are stranded ( Taman Bkt Utama 1 & 2, Sinaran Ukay Condo, Kyoto Garden and Oakleaf Park) which were not asked to evacuate their homes have been getting half truth SMSes from people outside Bukit Antarabangsa (non-residents & evacuated residents). Among them:
a. alternative vehicular access road opened - half truth - yes, it is opened but only for army 4wds for relief / TNB power reconnection. And the army bridge we see in the papers are for Bukit Mewah (landslide victims) residents to drive out their cars.
b. total evacuation - half truth - at press time,Taman Bkt Utama 1 & 2, Sinaran Ukay Condo, Kyoto Garden and Oakleaf Park evac is not required. However, Taman Bukit Jaya was ordered to evacuate last night.So long friends.

The Ugly

i. Politics - Both sides Pakatan and Barisan Politicians are trying to out beat each other in helping the residents. States Men and Federal Men, listen well and listen hard, we do not need your promises, we need your action!!!
ii. Blame Game - Again, politicians. This we do not understand. What we saw on TV3 news shocked us. You really think Bukit Antarabangsa Residents are that stupid? Banners not required, please.
iii. Guccis and Pradas - I was told, certain 'princess' group came by to give moral support told off one of the residents because they want to park their cars at a certain spot. With their Gucci bags and Prada shoes, I don't think they want to get themselves in 'Muddy Waters'

The above are correct at press time.

So, there you go. No pictures this time around. I smell home cooked dinner. Although, you have lights, a candle lit home cook dinner is very much welcomed. Good morning and Good night.

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According to experts, these abandoned houses were the cause of the tragedy.

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"Discarded double storey houses the cause of Saturday’s mishap, says expert

KUALA LUMPUR: An abandoned project could have been the cause of the landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa on Saturday, said an expert.

Dr Gue See Sew, a geotechnical engineer who specialises in
landslides, said abandoned projects were very dangerous when it came
to landslides.

“The site is not completed and there is no maintenance of the site,” he said, adding that the lack of maintenance, especially of slopes could cause them to collapse.

Dr Gue, who spoke to reporters yesterday, toured the site of the landslide.

The abandoned project, consisting of two rows of double storey units, are located at Jalan Wangsa 9 immediately above the collapsed slope.

Dr Gue believed the project could have been abandoned for more than twenty years.

He said residents in the area should also be evacuated until the landslide has been cleared and the slope strengthened.

“The surrounding slopes would share a similar geological profile and they need to make it safe before people can move back into their homes,” he said.

Institution of Engineers said that Saturday’s landslide was not caused by any new development.

Vice-president Tan Yean Chin said there had not been any development on the hillslope that collapsed for the past 15 to 20 years.

“I can see some abandoned houses on top of the hillslope. So, any
slope failure in this case is not due to new development,” he said
after visiting the landslide area.

Tan said the abandoned houses could mean the possibility of old pipes leaking or bursting which had not been discovered.

He said Malaysia should follow Hong Kong’s footsteps in addressing the safety of hillslopes and abandoned housing projects.

He said Hong Kong experienced several landslides in the 1980s but
brought them under control after the government evaluated the safety
of all existing hillslopes.

“The institution put forward a recommendation on this matter in 2001 and this is the right time for it to be taken seriously by the
Government and local authorities,” he said.

On the frequent occurrence of landslides in Bukit Antarabangsa, Tan said:

“This landslide is man-made. Bukit Antarabangsa has the same
geological factors as other parts of Kuala Lumpur, or even Malaysia.

“We share the same type of soil and rock.

There is underground water everywhere,” he said."

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The same expert also mentioned these in his previous report:

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Latest updates:

i. Evacuation for these places required: Jln Wangsa 9 & 11, Taman Bukit Mewah, Kondo Impian Selatan & Taman Bukit Jaya.
ii. Vehicular access restored for Taman Bukit Mewah residents to drive out from affected area. Exit near Masjid.
iii. Authorities are setting up 2nd command base at Taman Bukit Utama 2

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Pix from my standpoint(camera phone):

So far,
i. Chief Police Malaysia & Selangor said, no EVACUATION required for Taman Bukit Jaya, Taman Bukit Utama 1 & 2, Kyoto Garden, Oakleaf Park & my place Sinaran Ukay Condo.
ii. Food aid : 3 meals a day provided
iii. Medical aid : Kyoto Garden Main Lobby (Mercy Malaysia)
iv. Water re-connected as of 6pm, 6.12.08.
v. Electric TBC (chances are not for another day, although the Chief Police said today)
vi. Temporary access/ exit road through to Taman TAR / Kelab Darul Ehsan being layed by Armed Forces. (as promised by Police Chief)

All the facts above are per writer's first hand account at site. The writer is not responsible for any deviation from the above facts.

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