Government considering building bungalows, recreational park on Highland Towers land

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is considering building bungalow lots and a recreational park to revive the currently-abandoned Highland Towers area, says Zuraida Kamaruddin.

The Housing and Local Government Minister said that land owners had proposed a plan to build a recreational park and 50 bungalow lots at the adjacent area of Highland Towers.

"It is not high-rise but bungalow lots. So we think that it could benefit the people there," she told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday (March 19).

Highland Towers is located on premium land in a high-income location in Taman Hillview, Ulu Klang. 

On Dec 11, 1993, one of the three blocks of the Highland Towers Condominium collapsed in a tragedy that killed 48 people. 

Zuraida said the government was also awaiting the court ruling to determine the status of the Highland Towers land for future development. 

She added that the court ruling will assist the special Highland Towers Re-Development Committee under the ministry to decide on future developments for the land. 

“The court ruling will be made in April, which 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, then the committee will be able to decide on how to re-develop the area. 

“The committee is expected to have its decision by the first week of May,” she added.

The committee for the redevelopment of Highland Towers, who is chaired by the ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mantek, will decide on a project that is most suitable for the land.

It was reported that the redevelopment plan of Highland Towers initially included a housing project for the B40 group, a recreational park and a sports centre.