Residents live in dread as cracks on flats spread

Residents from the Seri Berembang low-cost flats in Port Klang are living in fear for the safety due to the poor condition of the homes.

RESIDENTS from the Seri Berembang low-cost flats in Port Klang say they are dicing with danger as their 30-year-old homes are in dire need of repair.

Blocks A, B and C, which house more than 300 units, were built in 1989 and buyers had been facing various issues ever since.

Residents said the condition of the flats was so poor that the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) never issued its Certificate of Completion and Compliance.

A check by StarMetro revealed numerous cracks on the buildings, including the walls, staircases, corridors and ceilings.

Resident Lokman Mahadi, 50, said he had been living in Block A since it was built and the condition of all the three blocks had been deteriorating since then.

He said he was from Kampung Seri Berembang and almost all the villagers were relocated to the flats in 1989.

“The condition of the flats was unsatisfactory from day one as there were a lot of cracks and defects even then.

“Initially, the cracks appeared to be minor but over the years they have grown to become a serious problem as they kept reappearing after being patched up, along with new ones,” he said.

S. Nagamah said Block C was the worst affected as the cracks on the walls were visible from outside the building.

She said she had been living on the first floor and her flat was in very bad shape due to cracks on the walls outside and inside her unit.

“I have repaired the cracks many times but they keep reappearing. And the ceiling looks as if it is on the verge of collapsing.

“I can only pray that the building will not collapse,” she said.

A. Balakrishnan, 61, said the residents faced myriad other issues and described the conditions at the flats as unbearable and almost “unlivable.”

He said the Block C building had partially sunk and the residents were worried about their safety.

Besides the cracks, Balakrishnan said the building’s roof had been blown away in some sections, which led to numerous leaks appearing.

“The water tanks are also in bad condition due to lack of maintenance,” he said, adding that even the electricity control room was left unlocked.

Balakrishnan said the residents had spent a lot of money on repairs and maintenance, but it had not helped much because of the overall condition of the buildings.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar said he was informed that the condition of the flats was unsafe for the residents.

Noh urged MPK to carry out a thorough assessment of the safety of the buildings so that the extent of the damage could be ascertained.