Defects in flats appear after start of ring road works
The Star 8/2/2006

SEREMBAN: The serious defects that appeared in several units of medium-cost flats in Taman Bidara Rahang here will be looked into immediately.

Seremban MP Datuk Hon Choon Kim who visited the flat, yesterday said he will ask the relevant authorities to step in to ensure the safety of the occupants.

“We will alert the authorities concerned to look into the deficiency of the building structure,” he said after making the visit together with the Seremban Municipal Councillor, Siow Koi Voon.

The defects at the flat emerged after construction of the Middle Ring Road Two began along the stretch near the housing estate.

Dwellers found that their walls began cracking and found that cement bags and other substandard materials were used as part of the construction.

Taman Bidara residents' association chairman Sai Bah Leng said the dwellers were now afraid that their life might be at risk if the 175-unit building collapsed.

“We are only concerned over our safety now and have sought help from Datuk Hon to expedite remedial works,” he said.

Sai said the building contractor had not placed the safety of the dwellers as his priority when building the flat.

“The most disappointing part is that the contractor used substandard materials and the effect became visible when piling work on the ring-road project began,” he added.