PCS – Introduction

Assalamualaikum and good morning to Madam Hairuzila and fellow friends. Today, we will
be presenting on the collapse of Highland Towers in 1993. Before that, I would like to introduce the
team. I, Muhammad Adli Hakim Bin Mohd Fauzi will be presenting on introduction. Next, Nurul
Arifarhana will be presenting on point 1, drainage system failure, followed by Karen Chin on point 2,
occurrence of landslide and Koay Wen Xin on point 3, failure of structure. While Muhammad Syakir
will be presenting on the conclusion.

The Highland Towers tragedy was one of the most tragic tragedies in Malaysia. It is the first case that
involved high rise residential building. Highland Towers consisted of three 13-storey blocks of
apartment known as Block 1, 2 and 3. It was constructed between 1975 and 1982 in Bukit
Antarabangsa, Ulu Klang, Selangor. Directly behind the three blocks was a steep slope being held by
retaining walls. Before the apartment was built, a stream originating upslope flowed across part of
the slope and kept flowing into the site. Thus, a pipe system was built to divert the stream to bypass
the Highland Towers. The Highland Towers were once notorious in the 1980s and early 1990s for
being a popular spot for the wealthy people and expatriates, a place they call home.

15 years later, on December 11 1993, after 10 days of continuous rainfall, a landslide occured
resulting in the collapse of Block 1 after the retaining wall behind the block’s car park was destroyed.
The collapse of Block 1 caused the deaths of 48 people from various countries such as Malaysia,
Britain, Japan and Philippines, and led to the complete evacuation of the other two blocks due to
safety reasons. Among the victims were Carlos Abdul Rashid, son of former DPM, Tun Musa Hitam
and his wife, Rosina Datuk Abu Bakar.

The factors that lead to this tragedy are drainage system failure, occurrence of landslide and failure
of structure.

Now, I will pass the floor to my colleague, Nurul Arifarhana to further discuss on this tragedy.