TWO homeowners in Taman Cheras Mas, Selangor, fear their houses may be sinking following a burst underground water pipe in January.
Owners of the houses in Jalan Mas 1 claim that although the pipe has been repaired, cracks have appeared along floors and walls, raising concerns about potential ground subsidence.
They are calling on authorities to investigate the issue and provide a solution before it worsens.
Wong Chew Ee, 34, who owns a corner unit, said the underground pipe in front of the houses burst on Jan 2.
Air Selangor responded to the emergency and repaired the pipe by the next day, she said.
“Soon after, we noticed cracks on the walls and lifting floor tiles in the porch area.
“It has continued to widen over the past two months.”
Wong said that following the repair, a water pipe within her compound was damaged and she had to fix it.
“Air Selangor informed me that ageing pipes in my house might not have been able to withstand the water pressure after the main pipe was repaired,” she said.
Wong noticed since Feb 8 that several doors in her house had become difficult to open, leading her to suspect that the floor was no longer level.
“At first I thought the problem was only in my house, until my immediate neighbour told me she was facing the same issue.”
Wong said she lodged complaints with Air Selangor about the cracks and officers had visited several times last month, but there had been no update.
“My water bill for January was RM1,114.85, which is unusually high.
“I am waiting for the outcome of the investigation before paying,” she told reporters during a site visit yesterday organised by Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) councillor Khoo Khim Han.
Meanwhile, Wong’s neighbour Toh Chun Fah, 85, whose house was also affected, has hired a contractor to patch up cracks in her property.
She feared the cracks could allow rainwater to seep into the soil beneath her house.
“I am having difficulty opening the doors and my main gate because I suspect the ground is shifting.
“I live alone and am worried about my safety if anything happens,” she said, adding she had spent RM12,000 on repairs.
Khoo said he would escalate the matter to MPKj Building Control Department for action.
Air Selangor had not responded to queries on the matter at press time.
