Highland Tower 1993 (let's not forget), Lets pay our respect to those who died 
Apr 3 2011, 12:19 AM, updated 14y ago
Eleven years have passed since 48 people died when Block One of the Highland Towers collapsed, but owners and former residents are still seeking closure and compensation.
Possibly meeting for the last time at the site of the disaster in Hulu Kelang today, some 200 of them sat through a poignant ceremony before laying flowers on a monument to commemorate the lives lost in 1993.
Highland Towers Owners and Residents Committee chairman Dr Benjamin George, who addressed the crowd, said the tragedy was still fresh in the minds of survivors, all of whom ended up homeless.
"We have not had this gathering every year because we wanted to put the tragedy behind us. "But this is the last time we can gather here because it won't belong to us any more," he said, referring to the pending transfer of property titles to AmFinance Bhd.
Dr George said the committee pledged to continue fighting the legal battle until all parties responsible for the landslide which caused the collapse of Block One settled their dues, especially the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).
"We will continue to do this voluntarily until the issue with MPAJ is settled and everything is over. "We also want the Government to do something definite to stop the ravaging of hillslopes that can cause landslides." The final memorial gathering had been mooted by Lorraine Tan, a former resident who helped champion the committee's crusade for compensation but died 11 days ago from liver cancer.
Tan's husband Quah Seng Chit, son and sister Tan Yoke Leng attended today's gathering on her behalf. Yoke Leng broke down and cried when the theme song from the movie Titanic was played in her memory.
Also present was Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, wife of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had visited the site days after the tragedy and consoled Lorraine on the loss of her six-week-old son and Filipino maid.
Dr Siti Hasmah told reporters she was sad that no lessons were learnt following the tragedy.
"I was here then and I'm here now," she said. "I consoled Lorraine after she lost her baby, telling her not to give up trying for another baby. "Today, I had to console her sister and husband as she has died of cancer.
"The saddest thing about the tragedy is two more incidents similar to this have happened recently involving the loss of lives and property. "The authorities do not appear to have learnt from the past." The ceremony began at 1.30pm, the exact moment when Block One came crashing down. A slight drizzle added to the solemn mood. A minute's silence for those who died was observed.
The significance of the sudden rain was not lost on Mary Abraham, who had managed to get out of the falling building with her mother, sister and baby girl.
"My maid died because she was too scared to follow us. "I was also six weeks pregnant with my second child at the time. But we thank God for helping us escape," said the finance manager, who had lived in the apartment for 15 years.
She said despite having put the past behind her since moving to her new home in Ampang Jaya, she was still seized by fear from time to time.
http://www.usj.com.my/bulletin/upload/arch...php/t-6307.html
However, there is a extremely sad side of the tradegy. Reports said that a maid and a baby survived because her employer asked her to run before her. Her employer was waiting for her husband who is trapped in the toilet. Of course, the loving couple died in the tradegy.
Another corpse of a woman was found in the stairwell. Rescuers found that there were hard stuff under her clothes, and they thought those were rocks in there. Shockingly they discovered that those were valuables, for example, passport, jewels and cash.
A mother and a baby (dead) were found in the elevator. The baby’s hand was clinging hard onto his mother’s blouse. The mother’s chest was filled withrocks and other concrete debris. Both of them were bureid together.
I really do hope that this should not happen again. It does not only took away the loved ones from some survived victims, but also left a deep scar in their hearts.
The time I’m writing this post is 1.30 pm, the exact time when the tower collapsed. Let’s say our prayers to those were killed in the tradegy…
http://teddy-o-ted.com/blog/2004/12/11/11t...highland-tower/
This post has been edited by bananajoe: Apr 3 2011, 12:24 AM
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