Tougher stand against abandoned houses

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SMC warns owners of forsaken dwellings of legal action as they pose danger, health hazard

The collapsed wall that fell on the road.

SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) will use legal action as a last resort to deal with hundreds of old and rundown houses that are in danger of collapsing.

Council secretary Hii Chang Kee told The Borneo Post yesterday that these old houses, some built half a century ago during the colonial era, were mostly abandoned after their owners moved out and were posing a danger to other residents.

“We are disappointed the owners are taking the environmental hazard problem lightly and indifferently, leaving it to the neighbours to bear the consequences.”

He said with thick undergrowth sprouting around them, the abandoned houses were not only an eyesore but a health hazard, especially when they become breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes which cause Dengue.

Hii admitted they had received numerous complaints from the neighbours.

“We are tracking down the owners, we want them to clear up the mess and if there is a need, pull the houses down.”

The council secretary said it was a frustrating process because many owners could not be traced.

“We have already sent out notices to dozens of owners, but sadly, only two to three have responded with remedial actions. The rest were indifferent.”

He further said they would be taking the matter to court and were discussing it with their lawyers.

However, he did not specifically mention the areas that had been served with the notices but appealed to the owners to respond immediately.

“Do not let this problem drag. Your former neighbours are having sleepless nights.”

Though the council could move in to clear the sites and pull down the houses, he said they had to contact the owners first as they were private properties.

On a related matter, Hii said there had been few cases of houses collapsing in peat soil areas.

“For the last few years, we have required developers to properly treat the soil if they are building houses and shops on soft ground.”

At the same time, he reminded developers not to leave empty spaces between buildings and the ground when raising the ground level in areas with soft soil to avoid other problems.

Meanwhile, an abandoned wooden house built half a century ago on sinking ground at Amoy Road collapsed last Friday, the second day of Chinese New Year.

Neighbours sought help from political secretary to the chief minister Pau Kiew Chuan, who visited the site on Monday.

“The front wall fell on the road. We are happy members of Civil Defence Department moved in to remove the collapsed materials to the roadside.”

Anticipating the incident, neighbours had earlier informed Sesco to cut power supply to the house.