This case details the tragedy of the 12-Floor Highland Towers Condominium collapsed on the ethical theories and codes of ethics in engineering practice perspective. This major disaster occurred in 1993 where it caused the deaths of 48 people and lead to the evacuation of the other two blocks due to safety concerns.. Block one collapsed due to the failed of the poorly constructed retaining walls and the high force of the landslide that equivalent to 200 Boeing 747 jets.

1. CASE STUDY:
HIGHLAND TOWER TRAGEDY
GROUP MEMBERS:
1. ABDUL RAHMAN BIN
MOHAMAD
(01DKA12F1092)
2. MUHAMMAD NUR AL-AZIM
BIN AZMI (01DKA12F1079)
3. LEO LIT SAM
(01DKA12F1098)
4. NOOR AMIRA BINTI MOHD
SIDEK (01DKA12F1091)
5. SITI NAJWA BINTI ABDULLAH
(01DKA12F1100)

2. HISTORICAL OF HIGHLAND TOWER
 The Highland Towers tragedy was one of the most tragic
tragedies in Malaysia. It is the first case that involved
high story apartments collapse.
 Highland Towers consisted of three 12-story blocks of
apartments known as Blocks 1, 2 and 3. It was
constructed between 1975 and 1978. Directly behind
the three blocks was a steep slope. A stream originating
upslope from the Metrolux land flowed across part of
the slope. The Highland Towers were once notorious in
the 1980s and early 1990s for being a popular spot for
the wealthy people.
Block 3
Block 2
Block 1

3. In general there are many factors that cause the
tragedy from happen listed below:
 Construction of buildings on the edge of a hill even
is not suitable, especially in equatorial and
tropical climates with high rainfall.
 Building apartment on the hillside is also against
with the Land Conservation Act 1960. The Act
prohibits the development carried out on the
hillsides with slopes greater than 18 degree for
reasons connected to then environment.
 Inconsistency between the Land Conservation Act
with the Environment Quality Act 1974.
CAUSES OF TRAGEDY

4. Sequence of the Tragedy

5. Implications of the tragedy
 About 48 people lost their lives that have been
discovered and identified. The victims are mainly
Malaysian, with 12 foreigners (1 Britain, 1Japanese, 2
Indians, 2 Koreans, 3 Filipina and 3 Indonesian).
 Cause loss of property worth millions of ringgit.
 Review of acts of environment with by the authorities.
 Cause damage to the environment seriously
affected areas.
 The possibility of public response on the hillside
housing will decrease.
 This raised concerns among developers.
 Environmental damage of surrounding area
 Amendments of existing act related to environment
 Possibilities of decreasing demands over residential
on hillsides.

6. Action taken after the tragedy
 The state government has set up a special investigative body that
handled by MPAJ to determine the cause of the incident. A full
report on the causes of the tragedy was completed and published
in 1994.
 The Cabinet has decided to stop immediately the all tall building
projects approved in the hills until a new policy is approved.
 Cabinet has decided to hold tall building development projects not
yet constructed postponed until a decision is made. While projects
under construction may be continued only after the developer
submits verification of stability and security of the other consultant
within a month.
 The Cabinet has also directed that all buildings of more than 5 storey
high in the hills to obtain verification from a qualified consultant in
the 6 months to prove the stability and safety of the building interior.
 Following the Cabinet decision, state governments have taken
immediate action to freeze all apartment building in the hills.
 In addition, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be
required for any development project in the highlands before a
decision is rendered.

7.  Liability ( tanggungjawab)
1. First Defendant
2. Second Defendant ( architect)
3. Third Defendant ( engineer )
4. Fourth Defendant ( local authority )
5. Fifth Defendant ( Arab – Malaysian Finance Berhad )
6. Sixth Defendant ( an abortive purchaser of Arab – Malaysian Land who carried out
site clearing works )

8. Animation - History Channel on Highland
Towers