Check for cracks, flat dwellers urged

Check for cracks, flat dwellers urged
The Star Penang 1/4/2005

THOSE staying in government flats should contact the state housing department to check for cracks in their homes following Tuesday’s tremors.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon’s political secretary Mark Ooi Swee Hing said it was impossible for the authorities to check the 1, 300-odd public and private highrise buildings in the state.

”Private apartment or condominium owners can contact the developer or the building management company,'' he told reporters after Hungarian Ambassador Malaysia Tamas Toth called on Dr Koh.

He said government flat dwellers could call the department at 04-6505392 or the Penang Municipal Council building department at 04-2624400.

Ooi was responding to newspaper reports that the tremors had caused hairline cracks in several low- cost flats in Noordin Street Ghaut.

He said so far, neither the housing department nor the chief minister's office had received any complaints on the matter.

“We knew about the cracks from the reports,'' he said.

He said officers from the department would check on the flats affected.

Ooi added police reports had been lodged over cracks at two places in Batu Lanchang and Bandar Permai in Teluk Kumbar.

“We have to check if they were caused by the tremors,'' he said,

Earlier, Toth told reporters that Hungary hoped to work with Malaysia in areas of biotechnology and agriculture.