KOTA KINABALU: Angry property owners at the popular Karamunsing shopping complex here refuse to believe that the building is safe despite the latest findings to this effect by an engineering firm.
They are demanding a thorough investigation on the building which is now allegedly “structurally unsound” following extensive renovation works by the management, Crest Megaway Sdn Bhd.
There are 381 tenants and owners in the complex.
The property owners are disputing the latest March 7 report, submitted to the Kota Kinabalu City Hall, which they claimed contradicted the report from an earlier investigation commissioned by one of the tenants.
Spokesman for the individual lot owners, Siau Yen Min, claimed that the March 7 report found the Karamunsing shopping complex to be safe while the earlier finding stated otherwise.
He said that following the disclosure that the shopping complex was unsafe, business had dropped drastically.
The March 7 report, by independent consultant engineers Jurutera Perunding WD Lee, was commissioned by the management of the Karamunsing Complex.
“The consultant engineer stated that based on its design check, field inspection and structural engineering knowledge, the 7th, 8th and 9th floors of Block C of Karamunsing Complex is in good condition.
“In arriving at its finding, Jurutera Perunding WD Lee, unlike Perunding Rekajasa, obtained, saw and considered the engineering structural plans of the floors,” the management said yesterday.
In January this year, affected owners of the 7th, 8th and 9th floors, Suria Capital Holdings Bhd (SCHB), had complained to the City Hall after the three floors were found to be unsafe.
SCHB had since moved out from the complex as they were worried about the structural integrity of the building.
A few days ago, retired mayor Iliyas Ibrahim said the Karamunsing Complex was in “no immddiate danger” of structural risk to the affected floors.
His view was based on a preliminary investigation by the management appointed consultants.
Iliyas’ comment prompted further controversy over what City Hall meant by dividing danger into two categories – “immediate” and “non-immediate”.
No permission
The controversy arose as a result of SCHB’s October 2010 report which was submitted to City Hall. The final report was prepared by City Hall’s consultant engineers, Perunding Rekajasa.
Siau contended that Perunding Rekajasa had admitted that their observations were made without obtaining or seeing the engineering structural plans of the three affected floors.
He said this prompted City Hall to direct Crest Megaway to appoint an independent consultant engineer to carry out a structural integrity assessment of the floors and a visual observation of the rest of the complex.
During a meeting on Feb 10 at City Hall, Siau said SCHB agreed to allow Crest Megaway and its agents to enter Suria’s properties on the 7th, 8th and 9th floors subject to Crest Megaway issuing a letter of indemnity in favour of SCHB.
However, six days later SCHB Engineering Services Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of SCHB, informed Crest Megaway that SCHB’s management would only permit Crest Megaway and its agents to carry out visual survey of the 7th floor.
They would not be allowed to do a physical structural assessment of the 7th, 8th and 9th floors.
Further, in a letter dated Feb 24, SCHB notified Crest Megaway that its board had decided not to allow Crest Megaway or its agents to enter Suria’s properties on the 7th, 8th and 9th floors.
Public Safety However according to Siau, in the Sale and Purchase Agreement between SCHB and Crest Megaway signed in 2005, SCHB was contractually required to allow Crest Megaway and its agents to enter the three floors for the purpose as directed by the City Hall.
He questioned the SCHB’s reluctance to allow Crest Megaway and its agents to enter the three floors to carry out the directive.
He also asked why Perunding Rekajasa did not obtain the engineering structural plans of the three floors in carrying out and coming out with its finding in the final report dated October 2010.
“How could Perunding Rekajasa have arrived at its finding that the 7th, 8th and 9th floors were structurally unsafe when it did not have the benefit of the engineering structural plans?”
“Why did City Hall not provide the engineering structural plans of the three floors to Perunding Rekajasa which is a crucial document to be referred to for any consultant engineers to arrive at its finding?”
Siau said City Hall as the custodian of public safety and in the enforcement of its statutory duties, should compel SCHB to allow Crest Megaway and its agents to enter Suria’s properties. - FMT
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