The Star, Friday August 23, 2013
The broken retaining wall caused by a landslip has been covered with tarpaulin and sandbags to pevent further soil erosion.
RESIDENTS of Mount Karunmas
Condominium, Balakong are disappointed that insurance claims to repair a
perimeter wall that was damaged during a landslip last year has been
rejected.
They fear that they have to come up with the RM230,000 estimated to repair the wall.
The landslip, which occurred in September after continuous heavy rain, caused part of the retaining brick wall at the rear of the premises to collapse. No damage to the condominium building or other property was recorded.
The joint management body (JMB) has since covered the affected stretch with tarpaulin and sandbags to prevent further soil erosion.
In a letter to the JMB, the insurance company rejected the claims on grounds that the insurance excluded damage to walls or fences unless buildings were also damaged by the landslip.
“We have been paying for the insurance for four years, amounting to RM20,000 per year,” said Mount Karunmas Condominium JMB chairman Danny Chan.
“It is quite unfair that we have to pay for the repairs ourselves,” he said.
Chan said the insurance clause was confusing, as one section stated that walls and fences were also included under ‘buildings’.
There are 200 families living in the condominium.
Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng said that he would discuss the matter with the insurance company to find a solution.
He also said the Kajang Municipal Council would conduct investigations and issue a showcause letter to the developer on why the broken wall, which measures 40-feet long and seven-feet high, was made of brick instead of reinforced concrete.
Ng said the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry and other relevant authorities must look into providing complete guidelines, especially to strata title owners, on the best insurance policies for their properties.
“With guidelines to refer to, people living in condominiums or apartments will have better protection and peace of mind,” he said.
The landslip, which occurred in September after continuous heavy rain, caused part of the retaining brick wall at the rear of the premises to collapse. No damage to the condominium building or other property was recorded.
The joint management body (JMB) has since covered the affected stretch with tarpaulin and sandbags to prevent further soil erosion.
In a letter to the JMB, the insurance company rejected the claims on grounds that the insurance excluded damage to walls or fences unless buildings were also damaged by the landslip.
“We have been paying for the insurance for four years, amounting to RM20,000 per year,” said Mount Karunmas Condominium JMB chairman Danny Chan.
“It is quite unfair that we have to pay for the repairs ourselves,” he said.
Chan said the insurance clause was confusing, as one section stated that walls and fences were also included under ‘buildings’.
There are 200 families living in the condominium.
Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng said that he would discuss the matter with the insurance company to find a solution.
He also said the Kajang Municipal Council would conduct investigations and issue a showcause letter to the developer on why the broken wall, which measures 40-feet long and seven-feet high, was made of brick instead of reinforced concrete.
Ng said the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry and other relevant authorities must look into providing complete guidelines, especially to strata title owners, on the best insurance policies for their properties.
“With guidelines to refer to, people living in condominiums or apartments will have better protection and peace of mind,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment