Temptations & Ambitions

It is of course, of utmost grief to hear the news that another landslide had befallen at Bukit Antarabangsa. While it is an uncommon incidence in relative to flash floods, it has never failed to claim the lives of a few who are less unfortunate, and tremendous losses to many, in terms of dollars as well as the traumatic experience. And of course, there are many more who were cut off from civilization as electricity and water supply was cut off while the road was blocked by the landslide. Whatever safety guaranteed of any hillside projects would not garner trust from potential homeowners for these few years at least, thus impeding the trade of hillside houses.

And then, housing development continues as buyers flocks to purchase such "high class" houses regardless of safety issues. Landslides occurs one fine day and the fear continues before subsiding again, causing an endless cycle of landslides and calamity. When would people realize that such endless claims of life and assets can be stopped if it weren't there in the first place? Is greed really that all powerful to overcome human's sense of conscience? Must the whole hill collapse so that there is an absolute stop to such nuisance?

An insurance agent of a major insurance company who do not wish to be named claimed that most of her clients in that particular area did not even have insurance coverage for landslides, refuting it as a waste of money. Many claimed with many reasons how their houses are "landslide-proof", whether it is of weather, fengshui, geographical or technological reasons, but all they had not known was it is not foolproof. Pitting your life against nature is not a wise idea, although hillside sure have the advantages of being flood-free. It would be wiser to avert disaster by staying in low lands or it would safe to presume, anywhere far from sea and hills than pointing fingers at the authorities with legal action threatened in the face of the government. Is it worth it to claim that amount of money if either the lives of you or your beloved ones are gone?

On the bright side, it gave a chance for our search and rescue teams to hone their skills and efforts. Without such calamity, there would not be ample practice for all of them in needy times, given a prolonged duration of inactivity. Not to mention the fact that all medical personnel in the 3 hospitals involved were denied leave for Hari Raya Haji just to give their full attention to strangers in need. There is always a chain reaction of involvement when it comes to such tragedy, as it does not just stop there. Huge copters for search and rescue were seen on the football field of SK Ulu Kelang whichcaused a considerable amount of traffic jam due to curious passerbys. The cause and effect of each action never fail to lengthen just like a thread from a spider.

For me, I personally would stay off such hills due to lack of convenience and too far from civilization. Exclusiveness is a synonym for inconvenience and ruralilty comes to mind. Of all matters, I wouldn't mind buried 6 feet under on a hillside in Nirwarna. At least, a dead man can't die twice, nay?