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The nation’s FREE newspaper
Reel
wedding
by Maria J. Dass
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
K
UALA LUMPUR: The
Selangor government is
considering imposing higher
assessment rates or a levy on
hillside property.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul
Khalid Ibrahim said this was a
common practice in countries such
as Switzerland where rates are
based on the elevation of the land.
“The argument of those who
purchase houses in hilly areas is
that it is nice to stay in, but they also
have to anticipate and be informed
of the risks involved,” he said in an
interview with theSun on Monday.
He said the assessment collected
would be used to monitor and
maintain these sensitive areas.
It will also be for relief efforts for
those in low-lying areas affected by
the effects of hillslope development.
Abdul Khalid said Selangor
contributed more than RM20
million a year to Kumpulan Ikram
Sdn Bhd to monitor hillslope
projects.
He also said the state was
conducting a risk assessment
exercise on all hillslope
development. A report of the study
will be given to residents in these
areas, with the intention to explain
the risks to them.
“People who bought these
(hillside) property never
understood the risks and we have
to explain these to them. Of course
where there is risk, there will also
be risk mitigation which we also
have to tell them, like the signs they
have to look out for,” he said.
Abdul Khalid said if this
idea was implemented after the
Highland Towers collapse 15
years ago, the number of landslide
tragedies that occurred after, in
which a number of people perished,
could have been avoided altogether.
“After Highland Towers, there
were landslides every two years
but people forgot these after two
months and moved on.
“This time around we want to
make concrete changes to restrict
the development on Class Three
and Four slopes – which we have
done – and to ensure that those
living in these areas understand
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» Ban on unsafe helmets pg9
pg32
Levy on hill
homes
their roles as part of a hillslope
development community and the
risks involved,” he said.
The mentri besar said
developers too were eager to
develop hillslopes due to the
high demand for such property.
He advised them to incorporate
risk mitigation into their profit
margins, and only those who
could undertake this responsibility
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TELLING IT AS IT IS
» A message for visiting foreign leaders pg18-19
SELANGOR MULLS
HIGHER ASSESSMENT
FOR PROPERTY
BUILT ON HILLSLOPES
will be allowed to proceed.
“If not, every developer will
be pushing his files to the state.
Fortunately for us, now the
file-pushing is over, but they will
be using everybody, including the
exco members, to influence our
decisions,” he said, stressing that
the state government will not be
swayed into changing its policy on
hillslope development.
Award winning newspaper
for public service reporting
and opinion writing.
No. 4661 PP 2644/12/2008 (020369)
Wednesday
December 17, 2008
www.sun2surf.com
On threats by developers to
sue the state government if their
projects are banned, Abdul Khalid
agreed that doing so may lead
to them being blacklisted by all
Pakatan Rakyat state governments;
and that will be bad for business.
» Provide proof of corruption,
says Khalid– Page 4
First-day
confusion ...
The Bangunan Sultan
Iskandar which houses the
new Customs, Immigration
and Quarantine complex
in Johor Baru opened its
doors to long queues and
traffic confusion. There was
a bumper-to-bumper crawl,
especially when clearing
the toll collection booths.
The scenario at the entry
point to Singapore was no
better. Johor Immigration
Department chief Mohd Nasri
Ishak put it down to the
public learning to adapt to a
new situation.
A spokesman for the CIQ,
which opened at 12.01am
on Monday, said the queues
were because motorists failed
to use the Touch ‘N Go card
to pay toll. There was also a
bottle-neck leading to the 30
immigration booths because
motorists were reluctant
to move ahead to empty
counters.
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Witness
Protection
Bill tabled
by Giam Say Khoon
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: Witnesses who apply
for protection under provisions of the
Witness Protection Bill tabled in the
Dewan Rakyat yesterday will be put
through a stringent vetting process.
An enforcement agency can also ask
in writing for a witness to be protected.
The much-talked-about bill was tabled
by Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
The bill allows the minister to
appoint a director-general (DG), dep-
uty and the members for the witness
protection programme. The DG will
make recommendations for a witness to
be protected and the Attorney-General
(A-G) will make the decision.
The DG will base his decision to
recommend a witness on among
others:
» Whether the witness has a criminal
record and whether the record indi-
cates a risk to the public if the witness
is included in the programme;
» The result of a medical, psychological
or psychiatric examinations;
» The seriousness of the offence
which the evidence or statement of the
witness relates; and
» Whether there are alternative
methods to protect the witness.
The DG has the right to send the
witness for medical, psychological or
psychiatric examination.
Witnesses can also apply to the DG
to be included in the programme and
the DG may provide interim protection
and assistance to the applicant. A wit-
ness may appeal to the minister if the
A-G rejects his or her application.
An applicant must disclose certain
matters such as outstanding debts, legal
obligations and criminal proceedings. If
a witness provides false information, he
would be liable to be jailed for up to five
years or fined up to RM10,000.
A witness picked for the programme
will be given relocation, payment equiv-
alent to remuneration and application of
documents to establish a new identity.
The DG can allow his officers to use
assumed names in carrying out their
duties.
MACC Bill passed – P6