The Sun, TUESDAY AUGUST 8 2006
by B. Suresh Ram

KUALA LUMPUR: Developers building hillside projects will have to strictly abide by the National Slope Master Plan once it is implemented. Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Velu said yesterday the laws will be amended once studies on the plans are completed in March 2008.

“Once this master plan is out, we will amend the laws to ensure all development on hills and slopes comply with provisions in the master plan,” he told reporters after opening the International Conference on Slopes here.

“The amendments will allow the government to take legal action against developers who flout the master plan.”

The master plan study comprises the following components:
- Formulation of strategies and institutional framework;
- Hazard mapping and assessments;
- Early warning and realtime monitoring system;
- Loss assessment;
- Information collection, interpretation, dissemination and archiving;
- Guidelines and training;
- Public awareness and education;
- Loss reduction measures;
- Emergency preparedness, response and recovery; and
- Research and Development.

Earlier, Samy Vellu told the 400 participants at the conference the government is sensitive to the need for safer slopes as it will save lives and reduce economic losses.

However, his ministry and its agencies alone cannot manage the development of slopes.

As such, the local authorities mustpla a more proactive role to ensure development on hillsides adhere to local infrastructure master plans.

He urged the local authroties to refer such projects to the Public Works Department to ensure hillside projects to the Public Works Department to ensure hillside projects
adhere to regulations.

“If they continue to approve development plans on hill tops, we will not be able to stop landslides,” he said.

“they should refer the development plans to us before granting approval.”

On the Kampung Pasir landslide on May 31, Samy Vellu said the report would be completed in a month’s time.

“The report will first be tabled in the cabinet, and only then can I announce the details,” he said.

Last week, Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Datuk Azmi Khalid took state governments to task for not following the guidelines on highland development drafted in
2002.

The guidelines, revised last year, state that highlands above 300 m and having a gradient of 35 degrees should be reserved for recreation purposes only. - The Sun