KUCHING: The Land and Survey Department Kuching Division has taken note of problems faced by several house owners in Laman Bong Chin due to an adjacent commercial project.
The department, in a statement, said the project involving 14 units of 4-storey shophouses was approved by the State Planning Authority (SPA) in 2006, with permission to cover the monsoon drain for driveway and car parking.
Subsequently, the engineering plan was approved, and the development proceeded, it added.
“Action is being taken to check the construction works against the approved plan,” it said in response to news reports in The Borneo Post on Aug 24 and Sept 4 on the problems faced by the residents.
Teo Gek Tiang, who has been residing at Laman Bong Chin, off Rock Road here, since 1980, is dismayed that the commercial project had partially occupied the only access road to her house.
She lamented that the current access road measuring seven metres would be compacted to less than five metres upon completion, leaving very limited space for cars to reverse or exit.
She said the developer had covered up the monsoon drain to cater to the project, but what struck her as irresponsible was that it further occupied two or so meters along the access road for a retaining wall.
Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, who went to see SPA recently to appeal for the residents, said since SPA officers were not on the ground, they were not aware the developer had taken up part of the access road.
Teo’s daughter Su Hoon said some parts of the road had sunk and there were cracks on their car porch, both caused by the construction work.
She added that the developer issued a notice dated May 7 (received by the residents on June 23) informing them that a retaining wall would be built and work would wrap up in about 40 days.
“But they never said a word about whether what they are doing has actually been approved by the State Planning Authority (SPA).”