Edgy about safety in Taman Pertama

A double-storey house under renovation was damaged when the retention wall collapsed in Taman Pertama, Cheras, last month. — Filepic

DISSATISFIED Taman Pertama residents in Cheras turned emotional when a developer did not assure them of the safety of their homes during a dialogue.

The session was held after a retention wall collapsed onto a double-storey link house in the neighbourhood last month.

The developer explained its plans to rebuild the wall during the dialogue at Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai’s service centre.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) representatives were also at the meeting, which was the fourth between residents and the developer after the May 22 incident.

The collapse was attributed to the development of a 41-storey condominium nearby that caused some 40% of the 65m-long retention wall on Jalan Selangat to move by a metre.

DBKL issued a stop-work order after the incident, while residents of several houses near the site had to be evacuated.

During the dialogue, representatives from the developer said the conceptual design drawing of a new wall had been submitted to the Malaysian Institute of Public Works (Ikram) for approval.

“The estimated time frame for the design revision and completion of works upon approval is four to six months.

“The company will expedite remedial works and about 15 affected houses are being assessed individually,” said a company representative.

Au wants the developer to give an assurance that there is no soil movement under the houses.

Taman Pertama Residents Association (TPRA) chairman Au Yong Kim Meng said they wanted an assurance from the developer that their houses were safe with no underground soil movement.

“Since the incident, we have been living in fear that another mishap could happen.

“The affected residents offered to sell their houses to the developer but there has been no positive outcome,” added Au.

TPRA technical advisor Samuel Lau suggested that the developer check if a sink hole had formed beneath the houses.

“There are cracks in houses near the retention wall.

“A more in-depth geotechnical study should be done,” he said.

Tan suggested a follow-up meeting between the two parties to be chaired by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah.

He urged Mahadi to review the condominium building design and plot ratio.