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http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/5/8/central/21170549&sec=central

Thursday May 8, 2008

30 families living in flats with big cracks on the walls

SOME 30 families at the Taman Seri Berembang low-cost flats in Klang are living in fear that their block of flats may collapse anytime.

Housewife N. Sinna Kulanthi, 42, said it was scary to see the cracks in her flat getting bigger and bigger over time.

“When we first moved into the lowest unit of the four-storey block 10 years ago, we saw one or two thin lines on the wall. Now there are cracks in the rooms and kitchen,” she said.

“If nothing is done fast to rectify the problem, we cannot imagine what may happen next,” the wheelchair-bound Sinna said.

According to Sinna, water would seep through the ceiling into her flat when someone from the unit above is bathing.

Signs of danger: Charles checking the crack line in a room at Sinna’s house at Taman Seri Berembang in Klang recently.

She said that both she and her lorry driver husband had complained many times to the developers since 2002 but no action had been taken so far.

“I cannot sleep well at night. I’m alone in the house most of the time. How am I going to run if anything happens?” she asked.

Haris Abdullah, a 45-year-old sundry shop owner, said he had been plastering the crack lines since they moved into the flat nine years ago.

“We didn’t lodge any complaint because we know it would be wasting time,” he said.

According to Klang MP Charles Santiago, who visited the three blocks of flats recently, the flats have serious structure problems and it is unsafe for residents.

“The flats are death traps and I hope the developer will take immediate action before anything untoward happens,” Charles said.

“It is the responsibility of the developer to check and ensure that the buildings are safe for occupancy,” he said.

He said that the flat residents were also facing drainage problems that caused mosquito breeding.

He said that during the last few months, 25 people, including eight children from the area were admitted into the hospital for suspected dengue fever.

Charles also said he would refer the matter to the mentri besar to find solutions to the problem.

According to him, at least five blocks of low-cost flats in Klang are having similar structural problems.