SEREMBAN: The Seremban City Council has demolished two extensions built illegally on public reserve areas next to two eateries in Pusat Dagangan Seremban 2.
Seremban mayor Datuk Masri Baharuddin said the council had no other option, as the owner of both eateries had failed to comply with repeated orders to tear down the illegal structures.
One eatery was a nasi kandar outlet, and the other served nasi kandar and banana leaf dishes.
"We had issued two notices to the owner to demolish the illegal extensions within 14 days in 2024, and another notice last year, but he failed to abide by the orders.
"We then issued another order to vacate the premises within 30 days in May last year so we could proceed with the demolition work," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Jan 27).
Masri said the owner then filed an appeal, and the decision was deferred until Dec 31 last year.
He said another notice ordering the owner to vacate the premises was sent out on Dec 15 last year.
"We finally decided to proceed with the demolition as the owner had failed to comply despite being served with several notices," he said.
Section 70(1) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 makes it an offence for anyone to build a structure without prior approval from the local authority.
Similarly, it was an offence under sections 46(1)(a) and 86(d) of the same legislation to build structures that constitute a public obstruction and nuisance.
Masri said it was also an offence under Section 425 of the National Land Code to encroach onto government land.
He said officers from the state district and land office, SWCorp, Tenaga Nasional, Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan and the police had assisted in the exercise.
He said the operation was part of ongoing enforcement against unauthorised construction in areas within its jurisdiction.
"We hope this operation will raise awareness among owners of premises to comply with the regulations and instructions that have been given to ensure the comfort and safety of the public," he said.
Masri urged the public to forward their complaints, queries or suggestions to the council's Public Complaints Management System (Sispaa) mbseremban.spab.gov.my, through its Public Response App or by calling 06-7654444.
