Buildings: Who's
responsible when things go wrong?
03/02/1993 BT By Bhag
Singh
NOWADAYS we seem to be reading so often
of events related to buildings which
sometimes appear newsy and, at other
times, frightening. Before, we have been
exposed to events such as cracks in
walls and floors, but now we read about
buildings and parts that collapse,
sometimes causing injury and even death.
Housebuyers in
10-year-wait for CFs
09/02/1993 NST-CITYX
MORE than 60 housebuyers in Taman
Tapah Baru in Tapah, Perak, have been
waiting for the past 10 years to get
certificates of fitness (CFs) for
their houses. According to a resident,
the single-storey terrace houses,
priced at between RM28,000 and
RM30,000 each, have not been given CFs
because the district council refuses
to do so.
CF on the way to flat-buyer
10/02/1993 MM
LOONG could not move into his new
low-cost flat in Taman Serias the
developer failed to give the
certificate of fitness (CF) for the
unit. Calls to the developer, he says,
produced the same answer that the CF
would be issued in a few months
Obstacles in controlling land use
10/02/1993 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. - The absence of
power to compel developers to build
low-cost houses and conflict between
local authority and land administration
are among the obstacles faced in the
present system of controlling land use.
Lands and Mines Department
director-general Dr Nik Mohamed Zain
Yusof said today while the Government
required the developers to provide low-
cost houses in their projects, there was
no legislation backing the conversion
and sub-divison of land for it.
No open space no CF, builders told 10/02/1993 BT
HOUSING developers on Penang will not be issued certificates
of fitness for their buildings until
they hand over the mandatory open space
at such schemes to the Penang Island
Municipal Council (MPPP). MPPP president
Datuk Tan Gim Hwa said yesterday that
this is to ensure all developers hand
over the open spaces to the council.
Guide on building laws should include
geology, soil stability
10/02/1994 BT By Zarina Tahir
GEOLOGY and soil stability must be
included as one of the guidelines in
building laws to avoid any future
disaster similar to the Highland Towers
incident, said the editorial in the
latest issue of The Planter. The
bulletin, a publication of The
Incorporated Society of Planters, said
although the Government has imposed new
rulings on the construction of buildings
on hillslopes, this is insufficient.
Action against 25 errant builders
11/02/1993 NST-CITYX
CITY Hall has
taken action against architects, contractors and developers of 25 building projects for failing to observe strict rules on
construction procedures and safety over the past six months. The offences were detected by a task force set up to inspect
construction sites following widespread public complaints about nuisance generated by noisy and polluting construction work
Housebuyers may
see end to 10-year wait for houses
12/02/1993 NST-CITYX
HOUSEBUYERS of Taman Tapah Baru, Tapah,
who have had to wait for the past 10
years for their homes as the
Certificates of Fitness (CFs) had not
been issued, may soon see an end to
theirlong wait. The developer of Taman
Tapah Baru, Pembinaan Fiba Sdn Bhd, said
the company had,through their lawyers,
spoken to the Tapah District Council,
asking them to waive the requirement of
a bank guarantee and instead settle for
a corporate guarantee that it would
undertake any liabilities or
compensation in case a landslide occurs.
Three years old, but still no strata
title
12/02/1993 MM
LIEW claims that he has still not got
the certificate of fitness and strata
titlefor an apartment he purchased in
Jalan SS19/3A, Subang Jaya three
yearsago. He says he paid in full the
apartment's cost on the day he signed
thesales and purchase agreement on Sept
30, 1987.
CF for Dara house in USJ only
approved in principle
12/02/1993 MM
* RENNIE of Kuala Lumpur is confused
about the status of the certificate of
fitness for his house. "Earlier, a
housebuyer who bought a house in the Uda
and Dara phase of the USJ housing estate
was told by the developer Through the
Hotline column that the CF for his house
is ready and that it could be collected
anytime," he says.
Gantung lesen
jika gagal siapkan rumah 13/02/1993
BH
JOHOR BAHRU, Jumaat - Kerajaan Johor akan bertindak lebih tegas terhadap
pemaju perumahan yang melambat-lambatkan pembinaan rumah kos rendah,
menyebabkan 11,000 unit kos rendah di negeri ini yang diluluskan sejak 10
tahun lalu, terbengkalai sehingga kini. Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perumahan
dan Kerajaan Tempatan negeri, Datuk Bahari Haron, berkata kerajaan negeri
akan menguatkuasa syarat perjanjian dengan pemaju, jika mereka gagal
membina rumah kos rendah dalam tempoh ditetapkan.
Bangunan tinggi akan
diperiksa
14/02/1994 BH
PANTAI REMIS, Ahad - Semua bangunan tinggi termasuk kondominium dan rumah
pangsa akan diperiksa secara berjadual pada masa depan bagi memastikan
bangunan itu selamat didiami, kata Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan,
Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh hari ini. Katanya, pemeriksaan berjadual itu akan
dilakukan selepas Akta Perancang Bandar dan Desa, Akta Kerajaan Tempatan
dan Undang-undang Kecil Bangunan Seragam dipinda.
RM4 juta
biayai tiga projek terbiar 14/02/1993 BM
MELAKA: Sebanyak RM4 juta dibelanjakan melalui Tabung Pemulihan Projek
Terbengkalai (TPPT) untuk membiayai tiga projek perumahan yang
terbengkalai di Melaka. Timbalan Pengerusi Perbadanan Kemajuan Melaka (PKNM),
Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam, berkata satu projek itu di Taman Kelemak Jaya di
Alor Gajah diambil alih oleh PKNM untuk dimajukan semula dengan bantuan
TPPT.
Ting on checking high-rise
buildings
14/02/1994 BT
SCHEDULED inspection is to be carried out on high-rise buildings including
condominiums and flats to ensure they are safe, Housing and Local
Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said yesterday. He said this
will be done once the ministry has amended the Town and Rural Planning
Act, Local Government Act and Uniformed Buildings By-law.
Developers welcome
inspection of buildings
15/02/1994 NST By Abu Yamin Salam; Khairun Nazirah; Pang Hin Yue
KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - The Housing Developers' Association today suggested
that the periodic inspection of high-rise buildings be privatised and that
only qualified engineers registered with the Board of Engineers be
authorised to carry out the task. Association secretary-general, Alan Tong
Kok Mau, said that while the idea was acceptable, a more pertinent
question was, how to implement it.
Engineers suggest checks on
all aspects of building safety
15/02/1994 BT By Lokman Mansor
THE Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM), in welcoming the
Government's decision that periodic checks on all buildings be made
compulsory, has cautioned that such checks should not be limited to the
building's structural strength alone. ACEM president Ghazali Bujang said
if there is one lesson to be learned from the Highland Towers tragedy, it
is that any checks on buildings should examine the surroundings as well as
the structure.
HDA syor pemeriksaan
bangunan diswasta 15/02/1994 BH
KUALA LUMPUR, Isnin - Persatuan Pemaju Perumahan (HDA) mahu kerja
pemeriksaan bangunan tinggi diswastakan apabila kerajaan mewajibkan
pemeriksaan berjadual, untuk memastikan urusan itu berjalan lancar.
Setiausaha Agungnya, Alan Tong Kok Mau, berkata kerajaan juga perlu
memastikan pemeriksaan ke atas bangunan tinggi dilakukan oleh jurutera
bertauliah yang berdaftar dengan Lembaga Jurutera.
Menentukan bangunan tinggi
selamat 15/02/1994 BH
SETIAP lima atau sepuluh tahun sekali, bangunan tinggi di negara ini akan
diperiksa untuk memastikan ia selamat digunakan. Ini adalah jaminan
Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh yang tidak
mahu tragedi Highland Towers, berulang di negara ini. Jika segala-galanya
berjalan lancar, pemeriksaan dijangka dimulakan selepas Akta Perancang
Bandar dan Desa, Akta Kerajaan Tempatan dan Undang-Undang Kecil Bangunan
Seragam, dipinda dan diluluskan oleh Parlimen. Walaupun kita boleh
mengatakan proses seperti ini sebagai halangan birokrasi, di segi
perundangan, ia mempunyai implikasi yang besar. Tidak ada jaminan segala-
galanya berjalan lancar ketika gerakan pemeriksaan dijalankan sama ada
membabitkan pemilik rumah atau pemaju. Terlalu banyak kelonggaran di segi
undang-undang yang perlu dilihat terlebih dulu sebelum sesuatu pemeriksaan
dapat dijalankan. Oleh itu, segala langkah undang-undang perlu diambil
perhatian kerana ia membabitkan soal harta, perlindungan insurans,
keselamatan nyawa dan sebagainya. Mungkin ada yang berpendapat, Malaysia
terlalu terikat dengan peraturan dan undang-undang hinggakan sukar bagi
pihak berkuasa untuk menjalankan tugas mereka. Di negara yang aktif,
setiap orang terdedah kepada risiko undang-undang yang tinggi. Mereka
mudah mengambil tindakan terhadap orang lain dan pada masa yang sama
mengambil tindakan terhadap orang lain. Dengan bantuan peguam, mereka
ditunjukkan jalan mengenai apa yang perlu dilakukan.
Council acts on developer
18/02/1993 MM
THE Klang Municipal Council will not issue
certificates of fitness to a developer
of Taman Indah Makmur in Klang if they
are found to be clogging a drain
bordering houses of Kawasan Solok Sungai
Dua that formed a breeding ground for
mosquitoes.
190
shelved housing projects revived 19/02/1993 BT By Rodhiah Ismail
A TOTAL of 190 abandoned housing projects worth RM1.85 billion have so far
been revived, involving the construction of 32,686 residential units for
22,850 buyers. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Ting Chew Peh
said at present there are 118 projects involving 27,833 residential units,
comprising mainly medium- and high-cost houses awaiting revival.
Priority to be given to erosion
control 19/02/1993 MM
THE Housing and Local Government
Ministry has agreed to change the
schedule of payments in the sale and
purchase agreement for houses to
facilitate erosion mitigation works at
the projects. Housing Developers
Association president Datuk Teo Chiang
Kok said under the new system, the
payment for drainage, sewerage and road
works will be divided into three
sections.
Pulih 118
projek rumah 19/02/1993 HM By Aminuddin Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR: Sebanyak 118 projek perumahan di seluruh negara, sebahagian
besarnya di Selangor, Perak dan Johor, sedang dalam proses pemulihan
setelah terbengkalai disebabkan pelbagai masalah. Menteri Perumahan dan
Kerajaan Tempatan, Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh, berkata semua projek perumahan
itu membabitkan pembinaan 25,833 unit pelbagai jenis rumah bernilai
RM1,285 juta.
Fuming over faulty lifts
19/02/1993 MM
RESIDENTS of the Sri Pahang Flats in Bukit Bangsar are at their wits' end
over the poor condition of the lifts and other maintenance problems. They
said they have complained to City Hall many times but they have had to put
up with the problems for more than 10 years
Cracks in houses cause fear
20/02/1994 NSUNT By Khairun Nazirah
IPOH, Sat. - About 120 residents of Taman Bercham Indah are having
sleepless nights after cracks appeared in their houses causing some walls
to slant. Residents action committee chairman Foong Thian Fook, 39, said
they were worried because all their appeals and complaints to the
authorities have fallen on deaf ears
Panel: Expert responsible for
collapse of apartment block
20/02/1993 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. -
The engineering consultant has been
identified as the main party responsible
for the collapse of the six-storey
apartment block while it was under
construction in Taman Bukit Permai,
Cheras, on Sept 10 last year. The
investigation committee set up by the
Housing and Local Government Ministry
found that the collapse was caused by
the cumulative effect of inadequate
design, particularly the air well area,
poor quality of the concrete,
workmanship and lack of site
supervision.
Ting: 190
abandoned housing projects revived
20/02/1993 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. - A total of 190 abandoned housing projects involving
32,686 units worth RM1.8 billion have been rehabilitated, Housing and
Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said. These projects
would bring cheer to 22,850 purchases, he added.
Supervision joint task of council,
consultant
20/02/1993 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. - The Ampang
Jaya Municipal Council together with the consultant engineer were jointly responsible for ensuring proper supervision at the site
where a six-storey apartment block collapsed in Taman Bukit Permai, Cheras in September last year. Housing and Local Government
Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said the onus of responsibility lay with the council's building department.
Council: Resume work only if safe
24/02/1993 MM
THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council
will only allow construction work at the Taman Bukit Permai
project, where a building structure
collapsed, to continue once it is
satisfied it is safe to continue. The
council is seeking the geo-technical
report on Block C apartment structural
appraisal and another on the studies
done on the slope - the site of the
collapsed structure.
Police looking at negligence aspect
24/02/1993 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. - Police are investigating
possible death by negligence resulting
from the collapse of the six-storey
apartment block under construction in Taman Bukit Permai, Cheras, on Sept 10
last year Hulu Langat/Ampang district
police chief Acting Superintendent
Hamzah Hashim told the New Straits Times
today the case was being investigated
under section 304 (A) of the Penal Code.
50 peratus
rumah disiapkan 24/02/1993
BH By Ramli Abdul Karim
SEREMBAN, Selasa - Pemulihan semula lebih 50 peratus daripada 16,958 unit
rumah kos rendah yang diluluskan
pembinaannya ketika kemelesetan ekonomi lalu, dijangka siap sepenuhnya,
pertengahan tahun ini. Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad,
berkata 40 projek rumah kos rendah diluluskan ketika kemelesetan ekonomi
negara dan 7,574 unit rumah yang didirikan di atas tanah kerajaan sudah
siap.
Syarat PPRT
diperketat 24/02/1993
BH
KEPALA BATAS, Selasa - Semua projek di bawah Program Pembangunan Rakyat
Termiskin (PPRT) akan diperketatkan demi menjamin matlamatnya, kata
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pertanian dan Pembangunan Luar Bandar, Yahaya Abdul
Hamid. Beliau berkata, setiap peserta wajib menyerahkan sebahagian
pendapatan kepada jabatan dan agensi terbabit untuk disimpan sebagai modal
pusingan jika projek mereka terbengkalai.
A-G studying panel's report on
collapse 26/02/1993 NST
KUALA LUMPUR,Thurs. - The Housing and Local
Government Ministry has submitted to the
Attorney-General's Chambers the findings
of the committee which investigated the
cause of the collapse of a six-storey
apartment while it was under
construction in Taman Bukit Permai,
Cheras on Sept 10 last year. Housing and
Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting
Chew Peh said the Attorney-General would
decide on the nature of Action to
be taken against the engineering
consultant, developer and contractor.
Housing
delays: Kedah's tough stand
26/02/1993 NST By Saiful Azhar Abdullah
SUNGAI PETANI, Thurs. - The State Executive Council has decided to revoke
the approvals given to about 40 housing
developers to carry out 46 projects under the one-stop programme if they
cannot furnish valid reasons for the delay in
completing them. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman
Abdul Rahman Ibrahim said the council reached the decision yesterday at
its meeting, chaired by Menteri Besar Tan Sri Osman Aroff at Wisma Negeri.
RM59.3j pulih
25 projek rumah
26/02/1993 BH
SEREMBAN, Khamis - Sejumlah RM59.3 juta disediakan menerusi Tabung
Pusingan Usahawan (TPU) dan Tabung
Pemulihan Projek Perumahan Terbengkalai (TPPT) bagi memulihkan 25 projek
perumahan di negeri ini. Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad,
berkata RM12 daripadanya dikeluarkan menerusi TPU manakala selebihnya TPPT.
40 lesen
pemaju mungkin dibatal
26/02/1993 BH
SUNGAI PETANI, Khamis - Kerajaan negeri mungkin membatalkan lesen 40
pemaju perumahan yang gagal menyiapkan projek membabitkan lebih 10,500
unit rumah di seluruh negeri ini. Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perumahan dan
Kerajaan Tempatan, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, berkata tindakan itu terpaksa
diambil kerana ke gagalan pemaju terbabit menyebabkan matlamat kerajaan
memajukan industri perumahan turut terjejas.
Errant
architects to be hauled up 28/02/1993 SUM By P. Selvarani
ARCHITECTS who compromise their professional ethics and allow themselves
to be dictated to by greedy developers will be hauled up by the Persatuan
Akitek Malaysia (PAM). Its president Jimmy Lim said the association would
not protect any member who breaches professional ethics.
Houses damaged by erosion to be rebuilt
27/02/1993 MM
WORK to rebuild 19 houses in Taman Putra which were damaged by erosion two
years ago is expected to start next month. It will be carried out by a
developer which took over the project, Syarikat Dirganiaga Sdn Bhd.
Spare no efforts to make
buildings safe 28/02/1994 NST By Lee Lam Thye
IN a move to ensure safety and avoid a recurrence of the Highland Towers
condominium collapse tragedy, the Government has proposed checks every
five or 10 years for all high-rise buildings. Housing and Local Government
Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said recently that the checks would be
made compulsory with amendments to the Local Government Act 1975, Town and
Country Planning Act 1976 and the Uniform Building By-laws 1984.
