REPORT CRACKS, RESIDENTS TOLD

Don’t ignore signs of structural damage to flats, says Selangor govt

DO not ignore any sign of structural damage to multi-level buildings and report the matter immediately to the authorities.

That was the call by the Selangor government to its people amid the evacuation of nearly 118 residents of Taman Keramat Permai flats in Ampang Jaya following

the discovery of cracks and movements at Block F, which was said to have been leaning to one side.

The flat dwellers are taking shelter at the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council Hall or with relatives after cracks appeared in the building on Friday.

State Housing and Urban Living Committee chairman Haniza Mohd Talha and Local Government, Public Transportation and New Village Development Committee chairman Ng Sze Han said people could lodge complaints with local councils, councillors and assemblymen.

Haniza said the state government could instruct local councils to assist people to engage professional and independent bodies to carry out tests upon receiving a complaint.

“We recommend that people appoint the Public Works Institute of Malaysia (Ikram) to conduct inspections to determine if their buildings are safe.

“Ikram has experience and expertise in this while councils have dealt with cases, such as the Taman Keramat Permai flats,” she told the New Straits Times.

Ng said local councils were able to investigate claims of structural damage and evaluate the condition of a building.

He added that councils could issue a notice of evacuation to residents if their building was deemed unfit.

Haniza, however, said residents should not wait long to file a complaint on structural damage, like cracks, on their buildings.

She said it was important to periodically maintain buildings as it enabled early detection of damage.

“If a building is maintained regularly, there will be no problem and any hazardous element, such as cracks on the structure, would be noticeable.

“In the case of Taman Keramat Permai, I do not think it happened overnight. It must have happened gradually until the situation worsened and (there were fears that Block F was) unsafe to occupy and people had to evacuate.

“If it was maintained regularly or the cracks were spotted earlier, we would not have to face this problem.

“It will be more costly to handle this now than if it had been addressed earlier.”