31/07/2008 The Star

WHILE developers and contractors can only carry out construction and renovation work from 8am to 6pm from Mondays to Saturdays, there is, however, no rule that tells them when they must complete the project.

“There is no provision in the law for a contractor to complete the works within a specific time frame,’’ a building surveyor from the DBKL’s building department said.

“While we empathise with residents who have to put up with endless construction work in their neighbourhoods, there is nothing we can do about it as the law is silent on the matter,’’ Alias Marjoh said.

Alias was responding to complaints from Taman Seputeh residents that some renovation works in their neighbourhood had gone on for more than three years and were far from complete.

“After we approve their building plans, they can start work at any time. Some owners run out of funds halfway through and have no choice but to stop renovation works,’’ he said.

“We can’t do anything about it. Once they are able to get more funds, they can carry on from where they left off,” Alias said.

There is also no rule that says that the DBKL can only approve a certain number of projects in a particular area.

Taman Seputeh residents complained that in 2006 and 2007, the DBKL had approved five construction and renovations works within a radius of 50 metres simultaneously and this had gravely inconvenienced the residents.

According to Alias, the DBKL’s enforcement team monitors some 650 construction sites in the city centre and out of that number, 113 are prone to carry out night work.

“ This figure does not include renovation work for houses. If we add that, the figure will easily reach over 1,000.”

Alias encouraged the residents to notify the DBKL as it was impossible for City Hall to monitor more than 1,000 construction sites in the city.

“Residents can file a complaint with us if they find that their neighbours’ contractors were working beyond the required time frame and if they feel that planning guidelines have been contravened. We will pay them a visit,’’ Alias said.

Owners who break the rules can be fined up to RM50,000 or jailed three years or both under the laws sanctioned by the Street Drainage and Building Act 1974.

For terrace, single and double-storey houses, owners can obtain approval via a special counter managed by the Urban Planning Department.

Alias said at least three departments were involved in matters related to construction work — the Building Department, the Urban Planning Department and the Public Works Department.