The Star, Wednesday December 5, 2012

Cracks on road in Taman Bukit Mewah could cause a landslip

Story and photo by OH ING YEEN 

ingyeen@thestar.com.my

Concerned residents: Maniam (left) and Ten showing the eroded road and the part that the latter had patched up.

TAMAN Bukit Mewah, Kajang residents are worried that the cracks on a road in the area might lead to a landslip and endanger schoolchildren of SRK Jalan Bukit situated down the hill.

R. Maniam, who has been living in the area since 2000, said the schoolchildren would be at risk if a landslide occurs.

“Jalan Bukit Mewah 37 becomes like a river during downpours as rainwater will flow from upstream, “ the 66-year-old retiree said.

“The road is badly eroded and it must be repaired,” he said, pointing to the cracks along the road.”

He has highlighted this issue to the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) since 2009 but claimed that no action had been taken yet.

“I have called the council a few times over the years about this issue. I recently also went to the council for a copy of the complaint. It was stated in the complaint report that contractors have been hired to repair the road and the problem had been rectified in 2009 but that is incorrect.

“I made a complaint again in 2010 but to no avail,” he said.

His neighbour Ten Yoke Wong spent RM2,700 on drain works and RM1,885 to tar the roads himself.

“Serdang parliamentary liaison officer Datuk Yap Pian Hon had visited the area last year and promised to highlight the issue to MPKj.

“Two weeks later, MPKj officers came in three cars and took photos of the road but still nothing had been done,” he said.

Fellow resident Casey Teh, 49, an engineer, said merely patching up the potholes and cracks wasnot the solution.

“Rainwater should be diverted into the drains instead of having it flow onto the roads, causing damage.

“MPKj is claiming that it was IWK’s burst pipe that caused the road to be eroded but IWk has denied this.

“They should stop the blame game and carry out the necessary action,” he said.