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Strong winds
blow off roofs of Prima Cempaka flats
24/11/2009 The
Star Story and photo by GEETHA KRISHNAN
SALESMAN Hidayat Nor Mohd Nor was at his Prima Cempaka flat one weekday
when rain suddenly begin to lash into his top floor unit.
Strong winds had ripped the roof of his rented flat, leaving his
belongings to the mercy of the thunderstorm. The only partition that stood
between the unit and the elements was a thin ceiling.
“Water dripped over all my things and the parquet flooring in both rooms
was destroyed. We considered shifting but decided to stay put to protect
whatever we could salvage as it is the monsoon season,” said the
30-year-old as he stood on the waterlogged floor.
Ruined: Water dripping down Hidayat Nor Mohd Nor’s sofa after the roof of
his rented flat in Prima Cempaka, Kajang, was blown off by strong winds.
The family of three spent a few nights at the damp flat with water
trickling down the walls.
According to Hidayat Nor, he used to rent a unit in Block A but shifted to
Block B because the roof of the previous unit was also blown away.
Kajang municipal councillor S.T. Chandramohan said 20 units were affected
in the incident, forcing a few of the flat dwellers to move out.
“These four-storey blocks are now under the purview of the Prima Cempaka
Flats Joint Management Body formed in August. The body is responsible for
the repairs but funds are insufficient as the JMB was newly formed,” he
said.
Chandramohan added that he would put in a request with the Hulu Langat
district office for money under the Disaster Relief Fund to aid the
victims. A JMB representative said the body was now processing the claims
submitted by at least four affected owners.
Losses in Hidayat Nor’s unit alone are estimated at more than RM20,000. |
