Apartments end reign of peace and quiet for bungalow owners
The Star 14/02/2005 By Loong Meng Yee

THE serene surroundings that eight bungalow owners in Lorong Sambau, Taman Chi Liung, Klang, have been enjoying for the past 20 years has been shattered. 

In those days, they wake up in the morning to the sound of birds chirping but not any more.  Six-storey apartments have sprang up on the piece of land in front of their homes, causing traffic congestion, noise and even posing a danger to children. 

The bungalow owners said their privacy had been violated.  

The bungalow residents standing at the site that has been cleared supposedly to make way for a hawker area. The road on the left fronts their home.

They also felt cheated because, when they bought their properties years ago, they were told the surrounding land was meant for bungalows as well. 

“Our main problem is with traffic. The apartment owners and their guests do not have enough parking lots. 

“So, they park their vehicles along the road in front of our homes.  

“Worse, some even park right in front of our houses, making it difficult for us to drive in or out,” said a resident, S. Ravichandran, who is a lawyer.  

He said the bungalow owners were having a harrowing time as even minor scrapes had been known to spark a row between the bungalow residents and those from the apartments. 

One bungalow owner, a sprightly 89-year-old woman, was so exasperated that she had resorted to putting bricks on cars that obstructed the entrance of her house. 

To make matters worse, a pocket of empty land behind the apartments, a mere 10 steps in front of their houses, was being cleared. 

Enquiries led them to believe an enterprising man was trying to turn the area into a hawker area.  “There is already so much congestion here.  

“Imagine the chaos and noise when the stalls start operating,” said Ravichandran.  Another resident, Shirley Tan, said the indiscriminate parking along the road fronting their homes had even discouraged Alam Flora trucks from making their rounds in the area. 

”They only come twice a week now. After the apartments and the cars came about one-and-a–half years ago, the trucks did not show up as frequently as before,” said Tan. 

She added that the affected bungalow owners had resorted to putting flower pots, figurines and bricks to prevent the cars from being parked near their homes. 

“However, our efforts seemed to be in vain because the owners of the cars just remove the barriers we put up,” said Tan.  Equally frustrating is the lack of action on the part of the Klang Municipal Council (MPK).  The residents’ numerous complaint letters have gone unanswered.  

Only recently, an officer by the name of Zulkifli came to check on the problem but there had been no word since.  The residents have taken their complaints to Sungai Pinang assemblyman and state opposition chief Teng Chang Khim. 

Teng said he would pursue the matter with MPK.  He said the vacant pocket of land now being cleared could not be turned into a hawker site or any other business venture without approval from the council.