KUALA LUMPUR: Re-development of the Highland Towers Condominium land would only be decided after court resolves the status of its 10 remaining property owners.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the case management involving the move to write off the 10 owners would be decided on April 4.
"If they don’t make any claim, we will move on to the next stage," she said at Parliament Lobby here today.
Zuraida said the court ruling will assist the Highland Towers Re-Development Committee special committee, which comes under the ministry, to decide on the future development for the land.
“The court ruling will assist the committee to determine the status of the land.
“The geotechnical status of the land is tricky, so after the ruling is made the committee will be able to decide on how to re-develop the area.
“The committee is expected to have its decision by first week of May,” she said.
The committee comprising experts and representatives from 10 major stakeholders, including federal, state and local authorities, is responsible for researching, analysing, evaluating, monitoring and executing the proposed redevelopment process of the site at Taman Hillview, Ulu Klang, Selangor.
Zuraida said a residential area as well as a recreational park are among projects which had been planned for the land.
“In the long run, the developer plans to develop a recreational park and 50 bungalows, as it is not a high-risk development, “ she said adding that the park would benefit the residents.
“The name Highland Towers would also be retained as it is part of history,” Zuraida said.
She said if the court ruling was positive, the next phase would be the demolition of the two standing tower blocks, which had been neglected for more than 25 years.
Zuraida on March 8 had said the committee had prepared a report of a study on the structure of the condominium, and decide on the agency which would carry out the demolition works, whether it is the Public Works Department (JKR) or the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council.
On Dec 11, 1993, one of the three blocks of the Highland Towers Condominium in Taman Hillview, Ulu Klang, collapsed in a tragedy that killed 48 people.