Developer: Workmanship not
cause of defects
04/02/2008 The Star
IN response to the articles in the StarMetro on
Jan 21 and Feb
1 on cracks in houses in Taman Bukit Mewah Phase 1, Kajang, JPS
Consulting Engineers Sdn Bhd wishes to clarify a few points.
The independent firm was previously engaged by the Kajang Municipal Council
and the developer of Taman Bukit Mewah Phase 1 to investigate the possible
causes.
In its statement, JPS stated that the concerned houses were constructed and
completed in 1990 and the cracks only appeared in 1999, likely due to
external factors beyond the developer's control.
The statement maintained that the defects or cracks were not due to poor
workmanship or inadequate structural and foundation design as a majority of
the houses under Phase 1 were unaffected.
The defects and cracks were due to seepage of water under the house
footprints from an external source outside Taman Bukit Mewah Phase 1 a long
time after the completion of the houses concerned.
The statement also said the lack of proper drainage within the upper hill
development also caused the water seepage and that the drainage system could
not support the volume of surface water runoff.
As such, the causes leading to the problems are beyond the control of the
developer.
