KUALA LUMPUR – It was a fair morning for Dr Eratha Krishnan, his wife and son at their home in Villa Scott here last Wednesday when they received a rude shock – there were sudden tremors and their unit began to vibrate uncontrollably.
But this was not an earthquake, but rather construction work was taking place for a new high-rise commercial project mere meters away from their condominium.
Concerned for their safety, the family and several other inhabitants who were at home decided to immediately evacuate the building and only returned later that evening after work had been completed for the day.
“We need to stop this before a disaster strikes, and it is looming,” he said during a press briefing that was attended by several residents, adding that the noise from the construction was unbearable to live with.
The development in question is a 38-storey, 97-unit upscale SOHO (small office home office) along the already densely populated Jalan Scott, Brickfields, which will be named Teringin@Sentral.
The building, developed by Teringin Sentral Sdn Bhd, will be sandwiched between the Villa Scott and Scott Sentral condominiums, with construction work beginning just over a month ago and expected to complete in 2024.
The project was initially approved in 2016 but was scrapped altogether due to safety reasons – the 1,208 sqm (13,000 sq ft) land on which the development would take place was then deemed too close for comfort to the two other condominiums for construction work to take place.
In January 2021, the project was revived, with Gabungan AQRS Bhd awarded as the main contractor. Work then officially began in November last year, as residents were kept in the dark.
The matter was raised by Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun in Parliament the same month, but Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the project would go ahead, with the land title also converted from residential to commercial.
Images and videos of the cramped construction site shared with The Vibes showed construction work being conducted up to the very edge of the fencing of Villa Scott and Scott Sentral.
The Vibes was also informed that the contractor has been granted extended hours to operate from 7am to 7pm daily from Monday to Saturday.
Other than safety and noise concerns faced by residents there, they are also worried about the traffic situation once the development is completed, especially as the new building will utilise a single-lift, mechanical parking system.
Call for an immediate stop-work order
Residents are now urging Shahidan to step in and order for the development to be scrapped.
Stephanie Koh, who is leading a pro-tem committee in objecting the development, said the group is currently preparing a memorandum to be submitted to the relevant authorities to immediately halt the project.
A meeting has also been scheduled between Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah, residents and the developer after Chinese New Year.
Meanwhile, Scott Sentral management committee chairman Chandra Ramprakash said the residents of his condominium are planning to file a judicial review in the next couple of weeks to stop the construction, claiming the window for legal action will close on February 18.
“If we don’t act now, in two weeks, we will all lose the right to appeal,” he said, urging neighbouring Villa Scott to join in the class action.
Koh, a secretary of the Villa Scott management corporation, said her condominium has yet to decide whether to join in the suit, pending a “black and white” from the lawyers.
It is understood the legal fees will cost them about RM400,000, should the matter reach the Federal Court.
Meanwhile, Muda’s federal territories committee member Zulfadzli Ridzuan has similarly urged Shahidan to issue a stop-work order, reassess the development plan and review its approval after safety concerns were highlighted.
Among other things, he said the use of the more affordable method of bore-piling to install the base foundation in the ground is to be blamed for the loud noises and tremors released from the site.
“They have another alternative to use a jack-in-pile, but I think they don’t have the empathy to care for the residents here. In fact, they are not consulted at all about the project.”
Muda is acting as a mediator and adviser in the case. – The Vibes, January 29, 2022
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