KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — The remaining blocks of the Highland Towers condominium in Hulu Kelang are expected to be demolished before the end of the year, following a Magistrates’ Court decision allowing the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) to proceed with the long-delayed plan.

MPAJ deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari said the court approved the council’s application last week, paving the way for the demolition of the abandoned structures that have stood vacant for more than three decades.

“We will organise a coordination meeting involving the unit owners, represented by the developer and the insolvency department.

“We expect this matter will not take long because everyone is clear that this is the objective that has been set. Within this year, the demolition process will take place,” he told Harian Metro today.

Hasrolnizam said MPAJ was now coordinating the next steps, particularly with the parties that would manage and carry out the demolition works.

The decision marks the latest development in a case that has remained unresolved since the Highland Towers tragedy in 1993.

One of the condominium’s three blocks collapsed on December 11 that year after a landslide triggered by prolonged heavy rain, killing 48 people.

The two remaining blocks were evacuated following the collapse and have remained abandoned ever since, while efforts to demolish the structures were delayed by legal and administrative issues.

Hasrolnizam said the latest court ruling had provided the legal basis for the demolition to proceed.

If completed as planned, the demolition would end more than three decades of uncertainty over the future of the remaining Highland Towers structures.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Four women who lost their way while hiking at Bukit Tunggul in Dengkil were found safe and escorted out by firefighters today.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said authorities received an emergency call at 10.13am reporting that the group had become disoriented during the hike.

A search and rescue operation was launched after firefighters managed to establish contact with the women, who were aged between 25 and 40.

“All four women were located by firefighters and escorted to a safe area. They were not injured,” Ahmad Mukhlis said, when contacted by Harian Metro.

Firefighters from the Dengkil Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene at 10.50am and immediately began efforts to trace the hikers.

The operation, involving six personnel led by operations commander Muhamad Sakirin Selamat, concluded at 11.30am.

All four women were assessed at the scene and did not require further medical treatment.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — The Selangor special state assembly sitting beginning Friday is not linked to the dissolution of the state assembly or any state election preparations, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said today.

Instead, Amirudin said the three-day sitting on June 19, 22 and 23 will focus on the Selangor Resilience Strengthening Package Phase 2, aimed at reinforcing the state’s economic and social support measures, reported Harian Metro today.

“Yes, (it is focused on Phase 2)… it has nothing to do with the state election. There’s still a long way to go… no, it is not related.

“We are not like Johor. Johor announced RM170 million in aid ahead of the state polls. We do not even have elections, yet we are still providing assistance to the people,” he said.

He said this at a press conference after launching the Selangor Resilience Strengthening Package Phase 1 at the Selangor State Economic Action Unit (MTES) meeting room in the state secretariat in Shah Alam today.

Amirudin said Phase 1 of the package, which began implementation this month, was developed through engagement sessions with experts in economics, industry, energy and geopolitics to assess the impact of global economic uncertainty.

He said the initiative is primarily aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures while strengthening food security and the state’s economic resilience.

“What I am announcing today is the implementation of the same package announced in April. This announcement is to set out the implementation mechanism and disbursement schedule for all initiatives under the package,” he said.

The Selangor Resilience Strengthening Package Phase 1 includes seven main initiatives such as the Kita Selangor voucher, public transport fare subsidies, free breakfast programme for students, Jelajah Ehsan Rahmah, agricultural sector assistance, Selangor Rumpun sales programme and the establishment of the Selangor Food Bank.

KUALA TERENGGANU, June 12 — A 37-year-old housewife lost RM95,715 after falling victim to an online job scam that promised easy earnings but delivered only a token RM85 commission, Harian Metro reported today.

Kuala Terengganu police chief Assistant Commissioner Azli Mohd Noor said the victim was first drawn in after seeing a job advertisement on Facebook on May 8.

She then clicked on a link in the advertisement and began communicating with an unknown individual via WhatsApp, where she was offered a part-time job with attractive returns.

The victim agreed and was instructed to join a Telegram group, where she was given simple tasks and initially paid RM85 as “commission”.

Encouraged by the small payout, she proceeded to follow further instructions and carried out seven transactions to seven different bank accounts between May 8 and May 18.

Azli said the victim only received RM85 for the first two tasks before the scam escalated into larger transfers.

He said the victim only realised she had been deceived after communicating with other individuals linked to the scheme.

“The victim also used personal savings jointly owned with her husband,” he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, punishable with a jail term of between one and 10 years, a fine, and whipping.