Taman Surian housing controversy persists after two years

NILAI - Despite two years having passed, the controversy surrounding a house in Taman Surian remained unresolved due to an ongoing issue with excessive renovations.

The house owner has yet to demolish the additional structures, causing significant distress to the neighbouring family.

According to Abdul Halim Hassan@Talib, 39, he had waited long enough and was puzzled as to why it had taken so long to order the owner to tear down the structure.

“I was informed that the court had already issued an order for the owner to demolish the additional structure, but no action had been taken so far.

“Seremban City Council (MBS) seemed powerless to take strict action and appeared to be 'going easy' on the owner, who continued to delay the process,” he told Sinar today.

A meeting was held on Sept 19 between Abdul Halim, the house owner, and MBS to address the situation.

Abdul Halim stressed that the ongoing issue was not just about personal inconvenience but also about safety.

“In that meeting, we were informed about the court's previous order, and MBS gave the owner time to resolve it.

“I had been patient for a long time and had made various complaints to MBS, but I wasn’t sure how seriously they were addressing this issue.

“This was a matter of safety. If it hadn’t affected my family’s life, I wouldn’t have made such a big issue out of it,” he said.

He further stated that the issue could potentially cause racial disharmony if left unresolved.

“I filed the complaint in 2022, but it was still not resolved. MBS had given a deadline, so let’s see what happens next,” he said.

Abdul Halim added that he wanted to live peacefully in the area and hoped for the issue to be resolved amicably, but he was disappointed by the lack of cooperation.

“Some people had suggested that I just sell the house. But it wasn’t that simple, and the value of my house had already dropped due to this issue,” he said.

In a statement, MBS emphasised that the homeowner had been charged under Section 70(13) of the Street, Drainage, and Building Act 1974, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 if convicted.

The council said that a discussion involving all parties had been held on Sept 19 to inform the owner of the actions required based on the previous court decision.

“The delay in action was due to the owner’s late submission of plans and confirmation of structural stability along with structural drawings by a certified engineer.

“As a result, during the discussion on Sept 19, it was agreed that the owner would carry out the necessary actions as per the court's decision, with completion expected by February 2025,” the statement read.

The council reminded the public to seek approval before undertaking renovations to prevent issues that could disrupt the harmony of the community.

“This is to avoid causing public disturbances that could provoke sensitivities among the city's diverse population.

“All actions taken are aimed at ensuring the harmony of the city's residents,” it added.

In June 2022, the media reported that MBS had issued three notices to the homeowner, instructing them to halt and dismantle unauthorised construction.