THE corridor railings at Kantan Court Apartments, Seri Kembangan, have been declared unsafe following an investigation by the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s Monitoring and Enforcement Division. 

Serdang MP Datuk Yap Pian Hon said the division had conducted an investigation following a letter he wrote to the ministry to look into the problem. 

Yap (left) and Kantan Court and Section 4 Bukit Serdang Residents Association chairman Chong Tham Fatt (standing, right) looking at the corridor railings in the building.

He said the ministry found that the repairs carried out were superficial and did not help secure the railing that was wobbly to the touch. 

Yap said the ministry had directed the company to carry out all the repairs within 21 days from Jan 26. 

He said if the developer failed to do so, the ministry had instructed the council to take action under Section 71 of the Road, Drainage and Buildings Act 1974 (Act 133) which carried a penalty of RM50,000 or 10 years jail or both upon conviction. 

He said the ministry had also asked the Malaysian Engineers Board to investigate the architect and engineer for the project and take action against them under the Housing Developers Act (Control and Licensing) 1966 (Act 118). 

Yap was disappointed that the developer had failed to carry out the necessary repairs within the given time. 

It was reported in StarMetro in October last year that residents were worried for their safety as the corridor railings were shaky and there were also hairline cracks that could be seen on some of the columns between railings. 

The council issued a statement the following month claiming that the council was displeased with the answer given by developer Khidmat Tulin Sdn Bhd, which claimed the damage was due to knocks from heavy items being carried to the units during renovations. 

He said as a responsible developer given state land for redevelopment, the company should show initiative and solve the problem as soon as possible.