A 37-year-old factory worker has filed a complaint against Lim Guan Eng at the House Buyers Demand Tribunal over a defective flat unit built by the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).

Soon Lean Huat named Lim by virtue of the latter being the Penang Chief Minister and PDC chairperson. Soon is asking PDC to carry out repair work on a leaking sewage pipeline estimated to cost RM3,000.

Soon Lean Huat_complainant against guan eng 05102009 He claimed that PDC had washed its hands over the matter which had been plaguing him for the past 10 years at his flat in No 6-1-1 Lebuh Nipah 3, Sungai Nibong, Penang.

"The leakage has caused water to drip on to walls of the hall, toilet and bedrooms. It emits a filthy smell," said Soon after filing his complaint in Seberang Jaya this morning.

He was accompanied by his wife Tan Lean Eng. His two children, said Soon, were also suffering from skin allergies due to emissions from the unsightly stains on the walls.

He said he was prompted to lodge the complaint to seek legal action following an advice by Lim's political secretary and Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik.

"Ng has told me in a letter dated July 28 that I should refer the matter to the tribunal instead of seeking a solution from the chief minister's office.

"I sought help from the chief minister, who is also the PDC chairperson, to resolve my problem. Instead of helping, Ng has told me to report it to the tribunal.

"He has actually challenged me to lodge a complaint against his own boss, the chief minister," he said.

Soon said he had exhausted all available avenues to end his predicament by writing numerous letters of complaint to various PDC officials and seeking the help of DAP elected representatives.

He said not a single PDC official or elected representative had managed to resolve his problem.

He said he bought the flat unit for RM25,000 in September 1999 and began to suffer from the leakage since June 2000 until today.

‘This is unfair'

Initially he said PDC workers would act on his complaints and carry out cosmetic repair work, which however failed to resolve the problem altogether.

"But after the 18-month defect liability period was over, I was told by PDC that the corporation would no longer be responsible for any leakages.

"This is unfair," he said.

PDC has apparently referred to Soon the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966 to back its claim.

Soon said he was also informed by PDC that the leakages could have been caused by renovation work carried out by his neighbour staying above his unit.

However, upon checking, he found out that the neighbour had never carried out any renovation.

"Who's at fault now? PDC should take responsibility for faulty sewage pipeline.

"I don't understand why should I come to the tribunal for a RM3,000 claim. PDC could have easily carried out a comprehensive repair work to end my predicament," said Soon.