Residents of Taman Kobena in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, have lived in fear of the impending collapse of their homes ever since developers began construction work right in their backyards.

With not one but sometimes two or three large piling equipment hammering away simultaneously into the ground behind their homes, 17 residences on Jalan 2/92 and Jalan 3/92 in Taman Kobena are said to have suffered either minor or major cracks, among other effects.

Having attended "more than half-dozen" ineffective meetings with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officials, 35-year old resident V Shanta Anna said that Taman Kobena house owners will take the matter to court if DBKL cannot settle their grievances with the developer.

Work on the low-cost Pudu Impian Satu apartments by Tanjung Teras Development Sdn Bhd is currently in progress. The Tropica Villa condominium by TSI Builders Sdn Bhd has been completed.

Situated on and near Jalan Pudu Ulu, the official launching of the condominium and apartment buildings is expected some time this year.

However, the residents had since last year demanded that the developer repairs the destruction to their houses and completely renovates what is necessary, to relocate a large rubbish area that had been placed behind their houses, and to replant trees whose roots may grow into their houses in the future.

Meetings after meetings

These demands have been ignored by the developer, while DBKL does not seem to take matters seriously, said Shanta.

"We have had meetings after meetings. The last meeting was on May 18, after which I asked the DBKL officials to come (to Taman Kobena) and see for themselves. They came, they saw, and then they said they would come after a week with a decision about the matter," said Shanta.

"They never came. When I call, they either say they're driving or in a meeting. Driving or in a meeting, they say repeatedly. We are fed up. I have spoken to a lawyer, and we may take legal action," she added.

Shanta, an administrative officer in the Asia-Pacific Resource Centre for Women, was speaking to reporters this morning at a press conference at her house to highlight the residents' plight.

Her father, 73- year old retiree Anthony Vincent Pillai, says that his heart condition has worsened since problems connected with the three-year construction began in early 2002.

"Since the problems started, I have been admitted three times to the National Heart Institute and Kuala Lumpur Hospital. We all sleep downstairs. We cannot sleep upstairs for fear that the walls would collapse," he said.

Death traps

Apart from the large cracks on the walls, ceilings and floors of the houses and the collapse of cabinets and other built-in furniture, residents are also complaining about the high boundary the

developers have built between the houses and the high-rise buildings.

A relative of Shanta said that the boundary built by the developer threatens the safety of residents who may need to leave their houses through the back during emergency.

"If there's a fire or a burglary, the boundary would be death traps. Children, maybe they can climb over. But what about the elderly? How are they supposed to escape?" he told reporters.

Another house-owner Suhaimi Mohamad, who heads an ICT company in Bangi, said apart from the collapse of his kitchen cabinets due to the piling, the trees planted by the developers right behind his house will later cause him problems as well.

"I paid thousands of ringgit for those kitchen cabinets. Now, there's the problem of those trees that are planted too close to the houses," he said while pointing to one planted just outside his kitchen wall on the side of the developer's property.

"Later on, the roots will expand into this side, break out of the ground and destroy the floors of my property," he added.

Cheras MP's call

Taken on a tour of Shanta's and Suhaimi's houses, reporters saw for themselves the long and gapping cracks on the walls through which one could see the other side.

In certain parts of one house, the floor had sunk a significant number of inches. Upstairs, one wall had completely dislodged from its adjacent crossbeam.

Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai urged higher authorities at DBKL and the city mayor to take the matter seriously and take immediate and effective action. He also called for disciplinary action to be taken against the officers who had not acted upon the complaints.

"What needs attention right now is the houses that need to be repaired and the other problems to be settled. Also, those officers that had neglected their responsibilities and shirked their duties should be punished accordingly," he said.

In a letter to DBKL director-general Salleh Yusup dated My 24, Tan highlighted the dangers that delaying repairs and renovations posed to the safety of the residents.

"Following the recent visit (by DBKL officers) to see the latest conditions of the houses, repair works should be done immediately because residents are in a state of suffering and concern that a tragedy would strike them any time," he said in the letter.