“Hill-slope development: Planners must have flexibility to decide”

After so many “against-hill slope-development” articles on the papers, finally... I see a letter (in NST which dated 22 May 2008), written by S.S.S from Kuala Lumpur, which offers a different point of view. I hope more of the silent majority would come forth and speak against the ‘noisy’ minority.

“Hill-slope development: Planners must have flexibility to decide”

I AM an engineer and would like to clarify some misconceptions highlighted in the media regarding hill-slope development.
While I do recognise the Highland Towers tragedy as a lesson for all of us, we must also acknowledge that if proper precautions and technical plans are put in place, there is also nothing wrong in building houses or apartments on hill slopes.

What is important is for the engineers and builders to put in place the right plan and technology to ensure that the safety aspects of the development are given attention.

In this regard, I urge the public to not oppose all forms of hill-slope development.

As long as safety precautions are taken into consideration, city planners must be given the flexibility to decide.