Malaysia’s tropical climate, characterised by high temperatures and intense rainfall, presents a constant challenge when it comes to natural hazards such as soil erosion, landslides, and sinkholes. These issues are particularly problematic in areas where land has been cleared for development, especially in hilly regions.
The tragic collapse of one of the Highland Towers on December 11, 1993, in Taman Hillview, Ulu Kelang, remains a stark reminder of the consequences of unmonitored land development.
Forty-eight lives were lost that day when torrential rains and rampant land clearing destabilised the foundation of the 12-storey building. The incident, one of the most infamous landslide-related tragedies in the country’s history, highlighted the inherent risks of hillside developments.
The Highland Towers disaster, however, was not an isolated case. It has since become a symbol of the potential hazards tied to unfettered development — particularly in areas where the balance between nature and human intervention is fragile.