Penang Watch

2008/05/08
Residents: Stop apartment project

Residents' action committee chairman Amirudeen Saidul Mohamed (left) explaining the problem to Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin (right).
Residents' action committee chairman Amirudeen Saidul Mohamed (left) explaining the problem to Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin (right).

BUTTERWORTH: Residents of Taman Sutera Prima in Seberang Jaya want the construction of an apartment near their houses to stop until safety measures are taken by the developer.
The residents of houses in Lorong Sutera 5, 6 and 7 also claimed that complaints to the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (SPMC) had fallen on deaf ears.

They said cracks had appeared on the walls of their houses since the developer started constructing the 38-storey apartment block about 13m away.

They also feared for the safety of their children as the contractor had failed to put up safety nets at the construction site as a preventive and safety measure.

They added that only a zinc partition had been built to separate the construction area and their houses.
Residents' action committee chairman Amirudeen Saidul Mohamed said several attempts to discuss the issue with the MPSP officials and the developer had failed.

He said residents were upset when the developer sent Bangladeshi workers to repair the cracks instead of sending officers to meet and listen to the affected homeowners.

Meanwhile, the developer, Benar Prima Sdn Bhd, blamed residents for refusing to allow insurance valuers to enter their houses and assess the damage.

Its spokesman said the MPSP had issued a stop work order to the company last month but construction work resumed after it had complied with all the requirements.

"We are going to put up the safety nets soon," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who visited the area on Tuesday night, said he would check with the MPSP whether the developer had complied with the requirements stipulated in the stop work order.

"We are concerned about the safety of the residents," he said.