Homes safe despite the cracks, folks told

 20/06/2006 The Star

THE developer of the Bandar Puteri Low Cost Flats project claims that there is no structural damage to units at Block B, despite cracks that have appeared in several places.

IOI Properties Bhd properties director David Tan said the company had ordered the project engineer to investigate the cause of the cracks when they first began appearing late last year.
“The investigations revealed that there had been an underground pipe leak that caused soil to be washed away leaving a small cavity and the soil settlement that occurred as a result caused the cracks,” he said.

However, he said the engineer had reported there was no structural damage as the main columns were unaffected, so there was no risk to the units or the occupants.

He said IOI Properties then engaged a contractor to carry out grouting to fill the cavity and secure the base so that there was no further damage to the units before any repairs were done to rectify the damage to the flats units that were affected.

Tan was speaking after visiting Block B of the flats together with Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) councillor Awtar Singh, MPSJ Zone 20 Residents Committee (JKP) member William Chang, P. Nagamuthu and Bandar Puteri MIC branch chairman R. S. Maniam.

Awtar said he had highlighted the problem to IOI Properties and MPSJ in Nov last year after receiving complaints from the residents.

He said most of the occupants were former squatters from around Puchong who were shifted there about four years ago as part of MPSJ's squatter relocation programme.

“That is why we were concerned when the residents started to complain about the cracks and asked the developer to look into the matter and rectify it immediately,” he said.

Tan said the company pasted announcements at various sections of the flats to notify the occupants of the works that it was carrying out so claims by certain quarters that they were kept in the dark were not true.

He said the company even issued letters assuring occupants that the building was safe and it would not have dared to issue such a written statement unless it was absolutely sure that the structure was unaffected.

“We have just completed the grouting works and we will now start meeting with individual unit owners to inspect and repair the damage to the walls inside the units,” he said.