Ampang Jaya residents live in fear of drain collapse

KUALA LUMPUR (July 10): A drain is your friend when it takes away excess water from rains and your property but it becomes a source of worry when it is in danger of collapse and damaging your home.

That is the fate that could befall some residents of Jalan Bunga Tanjung 2 in Taman Muda, Ampang Jaya.

According to a report by The Star, big cracks have been seen on the walls and floors of several of the three-storey houses there that could be caused by erosion along a monsoon drain

The drain was reported to be on the verge of collapse.

The Taman Putra Monsoon Drain Committee chairman Yong Voon Sing told the daily that there were “signs that the foundation of the houses was affected by ground movement from the damaged monsoon drain”.

“A few months after these houses were built some 30 years ago, 22 of them along this stretch had to be demolished after soil washed out from under the structures.

“There were no fatalities then as the residents were asked to evacuate and the site had remained empty.

“But now we are seeing signs of soil movement in the remaining houses. Of course we are very concerned about this,” he told The Star.

Meanwhile, Teratai state assemblyman Bryan Lai told the daily that he would ask the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) to seek a solution to the residents’ worry.

“They have requested for a list of the affected homeowners and will open a file to investigate,” Lai said after a visit of the affected area with officials from the Buildings and Architecture Department of the council.