THE YEAR of the Dragon got off to an unsavoury start for 210 families at a community high-rise housing project at Jalan Zainal Abidin in George Town when a faulty pump left them without any piped water supply on the first day of the Chinese New Year.
A resident at the Taman Manggis apartment complex, who preferred not to be named, alerted The Vibes that they either did not have access to water or experienced extremely low water pressure for the most part of the day.
Those staying on the upper floors were particularly affected.
"Initially, we presumed that the problem was related to the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP), but later we learnt that it was an inhouse move.
“So we alerted our maintenance supervisor but to no avail," he said.
The resident said that he had no choice but to highlight his plight to the media.
In fact, several units did not have supply until 2am this morning, the resident said.
"We hope our Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng will respond to our grouses.
“Although, this is our maintenance corporation's responsibility, we hope YB can pressure them to do a better job in handling our needs," said the resident.
He also shared the complaints posted over a common Whatsapp chat group, outlining the residents’ frustrations over the lack of supply, especially during the festive period.
A check with staff of the facility who declined to be named indicated that this was the second time in six weeks that water supply has been disrupted to the affordable high rise housing project.
A call to the PBAPP call centre revealed that no official complaint was lodged, but a staff member urged the residents to relay the matter so that the water authority can investigate.
Calls placed to the maintenance supervisor went unanswered.
Meanwhile, The, when approached through text messaging, said that he will liaise with his officers on the matter.
At 7am today, the resident said that supply had yet to be restored.
The earliest residents, who are mostly B40 income families, had moved in around 2009.
In 2015, there was a controversy over a land adjacent to their residential units.
Taman Manggis then drew nationwide attention when the then Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan accused the DAP-led state government of selling the land to a developer for a dentistry hospital at below market prices.
The state had roundly denied the accusation. – The Vibes, February 11, 2024.
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