PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: The Selangor government listed 15 housing estates as high risk for landslides due to their location around Bukit Antarabangsa, said Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

However, he said it did not mean that people were not supposed to stay at their hillside homes.

"All those staying on hillsides will have to face the consequences but those in Bukit Antarabangsa and surrounding areas are in more danger than others.

"It is not my intention to cause fear among residents but I am just stating it as a matter of fact," he said.

He said the risk was always there and it required thorough monitoring from the authorities to prevent tragedies if there were to be any landslides in such areas.

"There should be close monitoring and scrutiny on the condition and movement of the soil and the people should be extra cautious if it rained heavily for many days," he said, adding that residents could stay on at their homes as long as the precautionary measures are taken.

Khalid was speaking to reporters on the 15 landslide risk areas in the Ampang and Pandan constituencies after closing a state level anti-graft seminar held at the Civic Hall here yesterday when asked

He also urged the 286 families who were victims of the landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa to follow instructions by the Public Works Department, adding that the department had placed sensors at high risk areas for 24-hour monitoring.

"Except for the 81 families, it was safe for the rest to return home as advised by the department.

"The department is in the best position to advise the residents and I can say that they based their judgement on technical monitoring and physical inspection," he added.