Taman Pertama Residents Association technical advisor Samuel Lau (right) briefing residents after the meeting at Menara DBKL 1 in Kuala Lumpur.
THERE is a need for the developer to build a retention wall in Taman Pertama, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur, to strengthen its structure.
Malaysian Institute of Public Works (Ikram) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Taufik Haron said the developer needed to cut out part of the wall which had shifted and add a retention wall on top.
“We have also proposed some recommendations including installing a piezometer (to measure underground water pressure) around the wall,” he said.
Mohd Taufik was speaking during a meeting with the developer, residents and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) at Menara DBKL 1, Jalan Raja Laut.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah chaired the meeting.
The developer was also asked by Ikram to rectify the structural integrity of several affected houses.
The collapse of the wall in Jalan Selangat on May 22 was attributed to a nearby condominium project.
DBKL issued a stop-work order after the incident, while residents in the affected houses were evacuated.
A representative of the developer’s consultant said monitoring at the site was ongoing.
“We are going to reconstruct house No.49, which was directly affected by the collapse of the wall.
“The estimated construction period is a year upon building plan approval,” he said.
Fifteen houses near the collapsed wall are being monitored.
Some have been declared safe for occupation while others require further checks.
Houses with minor defects will be repaired, said the consultant representative.
Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said further assessment of soil movement was required.
“We hope the developer will update residents on the progress from time to time,” he said.
Resident Wong Yoon Fui, 43, hoped the developer would buy over his house as he said sinkholes had formed numerous times before the wall collapsed.
‘’The first sinkhole was discovered last December in the yard of my corner lot house.
‘’Numerous sinkholes started appearing after a downpour.
“By March, I shifted out because I felt unsafe,” said Wong, adding that he had no plans to return.
