A GROUP of residents from Taman Lembah Maju Apartments wants the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) to retract the Certificate of Fitness for Occupation issued for their units in December.

They claim that some homes were not fit to receive the CFs. The Taman Lembah Maju Apartments' residents association committee member Steven Khoo said some apartments had wide cracks that were becoming bigger with each passing day.

He said that MPAJ had assured affected owners last year that CF would not be issued until the apartments were safe for occupation.

“We were shocked to find out that the CF had been issued not long after we met with council officers from the Building and Architecture Department,” he said.

He said the cracks were so bad that the apartments were not safe to live in. He added that the developer had repaired the cracks twice, but they kept reappearing.

Khoo and his wife were forced to move out and rent a place elsewhere after living in the apartment for only a few months. They are servicing a bank loan of RM720 while paying rent of RM600 a month.

DAP Teratai Consumer Bureau chairman Khong Chee Seng said prior to the issuance of CFs, developers were required to perform settlement tests every six months, followed by a report signed by a certified professional engineer, which would then be submitted to the MPAJ.

He said the consultant was also required to give an underwriting to confirm that the building was safe for occupation. “How was the CF issued when certain lots are good for occupation, while others are in bad condition?” he asked.

“The residents want MPAJ to confirm if the building is safe for occupation. The council should also explain their rationale for issuing the CF.”

Khoo said 177 individual complaints had been filed with the Housing and Local Government Ministry in February. “We have not received any feedback,'' he said.

MPAJ president Ahmad Shafii Saidin said the developer had assured the council that it would undertake all rectification works.

“The developer will carry out a complete investigation and check all buildings and forward a report to MPAJ.'' He said at present there were no plans to retract the CF.