Cave-in gives residents sleepless nights
NST 2/8/2004 Stories and pictures by Barbara Foong

"WATCH your step," said resident C.M. Chong as he and the People's Consultative Council of Pandan chairman Lo Pak Ming led a tour of the cave-in at the backlane of 24 houses in Jalan Bunga Tanjong 6, Taman Muda, 68000 Ampang.

"You may accidently fall into the metre-deep hole and step on the human waste down there," added Lo, who is also an assistant to Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat, the MP for Pandan.

This hole, located behind houses number 66 and 68, Jalan Bunga Tanjong 6, was discovered after the layer of cement gave way, revealing that the soil and ground underneath that has been washed away. Chong, 53, said a similar incident occurred at a neighbour's house about three years ago.

The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) later filled up the hole.

He said the residents feared for their safety as the erosion underground was not visible.

They are also afraid that more serious damage may occur to the structure of their houses.

Chong said the whole stretch behind the houses made a hollow sound when struck with an iron rod.

"This is an indication that the ground underneath has eroded," he added.

Added to the residents' worries is the feedback from the Teratai Assemblyman Yap Soo Sun who had said MPAJ could not help them repair the cave-in, according to Lo.

As a result, Lo and the People's Consultative Council of Pandan secretary Cindy Leong Siew Kam highlighted the residents' problems to the media, hoping that something positive would come out of it.

Lo also said the sewerage company Indah Water Konsortium was responsible for carrying out a check to determining the cause of the erosion as the sewage manholes were situated near the area.

Lo will highlight the risk of structural problems and further soil erosion and cave-ins to MPAJ soon. The residents hope for an immediate solution.