Residents recall panic and pandemonium before fleeing

To safer grounds: Residents of Taman Mega Jaya moving out after the authorities ordered them to vacate their premises.

KUALA LUMPUR: First, there was a siren. And then – pandemonium.

Residents of Taman Mega Jaya recalled yesterday how they fled for their lives after tonnes of earth came tumbling down in a landslide that struck their housing area along Jalan Teratai 1/2J.

It was panic everywhere and people were running as fast as they could, said 54-year-old resident Bala Subramaniam who feared more landslides will come.

Bala said that when the landslide started, he heard a siren.

“We heard a sound like a siren before people started shouting. Water was also flowing down. I have stayed here for 18 years and it’s the first time such an incident has happened,” he said.

Yesterday, many people were seen assessing the damage from the landslide, which left four dead and one injured.

“I haven’t got orders to evacuate because my house is not directly in the landslide zone, but it’s only 150m away. Even if I wanted to move now, I can’t because there’s nowhere to go.

“If the order comes, I will have no choice but to go to the evacuation centre,” Bala said.

He said that tree-clearing activities at the affected hills, which began around a year ago, had him worried.

“The land was cleared to grow plants. I hope the authorities take note,” he said.

Another resident, Man Leong Dias, 60, was hoping that the weather would improve.

“I hope there isn’t any more rain. We are worried about another landslide. When it happened, I heard loud noises and saw that trees had fallen.

“There was panic because it all happened so fast,” he said.

Lee Wel Hua, 55, said residents had been told to evacuate yesterday following the landslides. Those directly affected were only allowed to grab their belongings.

“Those that stay further away were allowed to return home,” he added.

Ishak Junos, 54, applauded the prompt response by firefighters.

“I have been staying here for 20 years and this has never happened before.

“I have told my friends who stay at Taman Bukit Permai 1 to be careful because the affected area is very near their houses,” he said.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, when met at the scene, said RM1mil has been allocated for clean-up work.

He said the clean-up work would be done after a risk analysis was completed.

Pandan MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said work needs to be done to ensure the safety of all the residents.

“We hope this can be prevented in the future,” she said.

Selangor National Security Council chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar also urged that studies be conducted at the hills and elevated areas around the Ampang area to prevent future incidents.

“This is vital especially in housing areas.

“We do not want another Highland Towers,” he said, referring to the 1993 landslide which claimed 48 lives.