MEMORIES of the Highland Towers tragedy were evoked with a video clip showing massive structural damage to a project under the RUMAWIP a.k.a. Residensi Wilayah affordable housing initiative scheme.
Shared by TikToker Tuan Penasihat (@tuanpenasihat36), the clip shows various structural damage to an apartment block purportedly of the J Satine development in Wangsa Maju. Setapak.
The video shows harrowing damage to both internal and external structure of the building, giving the impression that the residential block is far from fit for habitation.
Recall that residents at the nearby PPR Wangsa Sari had complained of a loud explosion emanating from the J Satine construction site on Nov 7.
This prompted the Kuala Lumpur City Halll (DBKL) to issue a stop work order under Section 70B(2) of the Roads, Drains and Buildings Act 1974 (Act 133) to the project consultants.
Initial investigations reveal that the explosion was caused by structural failure of Block C of the development.
A statement on DBKL’ s Facebook reveals that the damage affected units from the eight floor onwards. It went on to say: “A site investigation was conducted by DBKL and found that there were cracks in the structure of shear wall, columns and floor of the unit.”
The poster of the video has urged the developer to provide an explanation.
The developer – Gandingan Jakel Sdn Bhd – has since issued a statement assuring the public that due process was followed. It further claimed that the construction site issue has been “misrepresented”.
But netizens are left unconvinced in the aftermath of the Highland Towers tragedy on Dec 11, 1993 in which 48 people perished.
A commenter claiming to be a buyer of Block C asked what options were open to him and whether he had to continue servicing the loan. The answers would have caused him some distress as the reality is that the loan will still need to be repaid “regardless if the entire structure collapses tomorrow” or the project gets abandoned half-way.
A few noted that the building was clearly unsafe and that all the professional consultants involved in the project such as architects would be sweating buckets at the moment.
The lamentations of house buyers were plentiful with one related that he had broken his back paying for the home from the time of his newborn who is able to now run, only to be faced with this ruinous news.
This is an age-old issue with seemingly no solution in sight.
Home buyers are always left clutching the shortest straw when errant developers abandon projects, declare themselves bankrupt or simply wash their hands of any responsibility.
The government really needs to step in to stop ordinary citizens from bearing the full brunt of such calamities.
Meanwhile, home buyers await Gandingan Jakel’s response and how it seeks to amend the situation. The only silver lining is that no homeowners have moved in yet. – Nov 10, 2024
Main image credit: Gandingan Jakel/Facebook
