Dream homes turn into a nightmare
30/04/2008 The Star

IMAGINE being promised a scenic view of the highway when you place a down payment for your dream home only to have the vision marred by a factory when you move in.

Such is the scenario greeting Bandar Sunway Semenyih residents living in Phase 1 every morning.

To compound the unsightly view, many residents said they were healthy when they moved in but have contracted asthma and other respiratory problems since.


Too close for comfort: The furniture factory next to one of the houses in Bandar Sunway Semenyih Phase 1.

The residents are the victims in this case whether the fault lies with the developer for maximising on the land space or the local authority Kajang Municipal Council for awarding the furniture factory the licence to operate when it clearly contravenes building laws.

According to Bandar Sunway Semenyih Phase 1 Residents Association president Ahmad Asmadi Adnan, the residents are stuck with their properties for life.

“Who would want to buy our houses now when there is a factory in our midst? The council can claim that the factory is legal but we know our rights and have done our research. It has flouted the Street, Drainage and Building, and Environment and Environment Quality Acts,” he said.

Disgruntled residents: (From left) Ahmad Asmadi, Mohd Sharifuddin, M. Ravindran and Ruhayat Mohd with Shelly Theng and her two-year-old son Ethan Loh who has been having respiratory problems since moving into the housing area.

Zulhakim Ismail said the number of illegal factories in the area had increased since he moved in a few years ago while the furniture factory opposite his house observed long operation hours.

“While I am not against the move to legalise illegal factories, I feel there is a need to centralise operations. A suitable location should be sought far from housing areas with proper access roads, drainage systems, buffer zones and buildings constructed using proper plans,” he said.

Under the legalisation programme it was stated that illegal factories that caused noise and air or water pollution would be fined, ordered to cease operations or to shift operations elsewhere.