KUALA LUMPUR: Highland Towers, the scene of a tragedy which claimed the lives of 48 people in 1993, could soon be given a new lease of life in the form of a recreational park.
Housing and Local Government Minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin, said efforts are underway to realise plans to redevelop the area which has been left abandoned for 25 years
She said she has already met with the Highland Towers Redevelopment Committee five times to discuss the plans.
“We have identified the land owner and are now sorting out legal matters.
“We plan to propose building a recreational park in the area, given that the land structure is deemed unsuitable for development or housing,” she said.
Zuraida said the redevelopment plan, if it materialises, stands to benefit the people of Ampang.
She however noted that the idea was still in discussion stage.
“There are still many more details which need to be finalised,” she said.
Zuraida was speaking to reporters after officiating the Girl2Leader Malaysia initiative here on Sunday.
On December 11, 1993, a major landslide led to the collapse of one of three Highland Towers apartment blocks. The tragedy claimed the lives of 48 people, mostly Malaysians.
The tragedy led to the remaining two blocks being evacuated due to safety concerns and left abandoned since.
Zuraida had previously said that the ministry was studying the feasibility of demolishing the remaining structures to repurpose the land as it had become an eyesore and drug dens.
She had noted that the towers are located on premium land in a high-income location. The ministry, she had said, would liaise with other government agencies to see if other developments could be carried out on the land.