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The infamous, long-abandoned Highland Towers Condominium located in Hulu Kelang is scheduled for complete demolition before the end of the year
This major development follows a recent decision by the Ampang Magistrate's Court, which officially approved a legal application submitted by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) last week.
According to municipal council deputy president Hasrolnizam Shaari, the landmark judicial ruling finally clears the path for local authorities to dismantle the derelict residential structures, which have stood entirely vacant for more than two decades, as reported by the New Straits Times.
The local council is currently coordinating the critical logistics for the demolition, ensuring seamless communication between the various operational teams involved in the project.
To facilitate the next phase, municipal officials will hold a coordination meeting involving affected unit owners — who will be represented by the original property developers — and relevant insolvency authorities
Hasrolnizam said that they do not anticipate an extended timeline for these talks because the ultimate goal remains clear: the structural demolition must be completed by the end of 2026.
These remarks were delivered shortly after the conclusion of the local Car-Free Programme, which was organised in tandem with MPAJ's World Environment Day 2026 celebrations today.
The history of the site remains deeply tragic. On 11 December 1993, Tower 1 of the Highland Towers collapsed, claiming 48 lives
While emergency search and rescue teams managed to pull two survivors from the debris, the remaining blocks were permanently evacuated due to safety hazards.
Forensic investigations later concluded that severe soil erosion, worsened by prolonged monsoon rainfall, had compromised the stability of the hillside , leading to the catastrophic structural failure.
Watch our Unpacked series highlighting the harrowing incident in 1993:
