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Saturday, November 22, 2008, 03.47 PM

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Damansara Heights landslide: Mayor avoids questions about project's approval

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Mayor Datuk Ab Hakim Borhan did not answer questions from reporters on whether the project was started with City Hall's approval.

He said the press conference at the incident's site was only about steps to rectify the landslip problem.

"The developer has informed us that they will clean up the mess. They have also asked permission to use the road one block away so they can speed up the cleaning."

He said other measures to be taken include cutting the slope so the developer could cement it to avoid another landslip.

"They will also build a U-shaped drain from Lorong Setiapuspa 1 to Setiapuspa 3 to help rainwater flow away."

The developer, Selangor Dredging, will also build a new rubble wall in the compound of the affected house.

On Wednesday, the house of Dr Marsita Mansor and her family in Jalan Setiapuspa 1 was hit by a landslip which demolished the side-wall fence and almost broke the kitchens door.

The developer's senior assistant consultant, Guo Y.Y., said the company would clean up the house compound and try to complete restoration work in seven days.

"As we can see, the damage is only outside the house and did not affect anything inside.

"But we want the residents to come back and stay here so we'll do our best. The developer will bear all the costs (of the repairs)."

Asked whether the project had caused the problem, Guo said it was looking at the overall picture.

However, he said he was confident that heavy rain was the main cause of the landslip.

But unlike Ab Hakim, Guo said the developer did get approval from City Hall and other authorities to proceed with the project.

"I believe this whole issue is a misunderstanding. And what I can say is, the residents don't want development near their place."

Ab Hakim said it was up to the residents if they believed that reporting the project to the Anti-Corruption Agency was the best way to solve their dispute with the developer.