Letter to Editor: “Love Your Neighbour”
I live in a semi-D house, well, at least what used to be a semi-D. On 19th October 2007, I wrote to MBI informing them of the renovation works being carried out by my neighbour. My neighbour had completely demolished his side to ground zero, intending to build a bungalow. The steel bars of the continuous reinforced concrete beams shared by both houses were cut off. So were the timer roof trusses. In short, he cut right through the middle of both houses!
As expected, MBI did not respond to my letter of complaint. I sent them a reminder on 9th November 2007, which also was ignored. On 28th November 2007, another letter was sent again, asking them how approval was given to my neighbour, since I did not give my consent.
To cut a long story short, finally with the good office of the Public Complaints Bureau, and 2 other government departments roped in by the Public Complaints Bureau, a stop work order was enforced on 31st January 2008.
Simple-minded Me thought that that was the end of my woes. I actually believed that MBI would protect my rights and that I will receive justice and restitution, but not so. My neighbour has started work again!
I have many questions but no answers:
1) How did MBI approve such a monstrosity with no regard to uniformity and harmony?
2) Will complete excavation of the foundation next door affect the stability and safety of my house?
3) Is my house structurally safe since common steel beams shared by both semi-detached houses were cut off?
4) MBI had admitted that no approval was given for the construction. That being the case, then the building is deemed illegal. If it is illegal, then why was it not pulled down?
5) When MBI lifted the Stop Work Order, why was I, the aggrieved party not formally informed?
6) Why were my letters ignored when I asked for confirmation on the Stop Work Order being lifted?
And I would like to add one more question: Tell me please, how to practice the adage “Love Your Neighbour?”
Perhaps Mr Fathol Zaman would like to investigate this issue and give me some answers. The MBI file is F2/2/139/481/07.
I would be more than happy to meet you to show you the place. Otherwise, you have the address you can do a site visit yourself. Please act fast before they complete the building, then it will be a different ball game altogether!
I’m attaching some photographs as well. Happy viewing!
Thank you for your time in reading this mail.
Margaret Wong
Category: Community, Latest News, Letters, Thumbs Down
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Anyone knows what happened to the issue? Me thinks MBI did nothing or at least know which side is buttered. Anyway there are many similar constructions around the city. On a slightly different note but still on the same exasperation with MBI’s inconceivable approval, I wanted to highlight the building of a bungalow in Canning Garden. I was driving around Jln Raja Kam to look for a family house and holy shit, there you have a huge 3 storey building smacked in the middle of single storey family houses. I honestly don’t understand how MBI gave their approval to such monstrosity but it certainly is a pain to look at.
Money happy feeding frenzy and an owner with absolutely no taste whatsoever !!!!! MBI ??? HAHAHA… as long as they are kept “HAPPY” anything goes, right or not Mr. Mayor ???
Sometimes you can’t blame the Architects or Engineers,is the house owner who usually do not follow the approval plans.This sort of environment can be seen almost the whole parts of Malaysia.
The concern authorities should really look into this kind of matters.
Hi, Wong,
Great, let everyone knows how our Ipoh MBI deal with this case.
And did you find out who is he ( Your neighbor)?
Ridiculous state of affairs. City hall please respond. This is a test case, and if he can do it, so can I. when then does city hall stand for the people under it’s care ?
One wonders how any professional engineer and architect worth his salt, could approve plans for this cowboy-style construction. I am even more amazed why MBI even allowed this construction to go on – a serious case of “civil servant closing one-eye” disease again? A word to the moronic inconsiderate neighbour – if you wanted to build a bungalow, why build it in an area meant for semi-D houses? Haven’t you heard of Jalan Gopeng or Thomson Road?