Flat dwellers live in dread of walls falling down

Residents of the Jalan Loke Yew Flats want City Hall to replace the old wooden walls of their units with concrete ones that can withstand the elements. - The Malaysian Insider pic by Raymund Wong, July 6, 2015Residents of the Jalan Loke Yew flats in Kuala Lumpur have been living in fear since the walls of three flat units were blown down by strong winds in October last year.

The three units, which are on the same block, had walls made of wooden panels that the residents claim are unsafe.

A resident who wished to be known as Seri, 49, said her husband had lived at the flats for more than 15 years.

“We are on the third floor and already we see the walls shaking whenever it rains heavily. Imagine how it is on the higher floors,” said the mother of two.

Seri said since the walls of the three flat units were blown away, she had been vigilant in seeing that her children do not play near the walls, especially during downpours.

"It would be safer for City Hall to change all the walls to concrete, like what it did for the three units after the walls for blown away," she said.

Rohaini Antan, 62, who lives on the 19th floor, said the flats were at least 50 years old.

"I've been living here for 20 years, I think my block is the oldest and was built first, which is why the walls are made of wood," she said, adding that she, too, was afraid every time it rained.

"I stay with my brother and my two daughters. When it rains, we stay away from the walls and are ready to run out at the first sign of danger,” she said.

Since the Sabah earthquake, Rohaini said she had been worried that something similar could happen here, with graver consequences.

"The building is old, the unit walls are not even concrete. If an earthquake occurs, it could get very bad.

"I hope the authorities will change the walls soon and not wait for another incident to happen," she said.

Checks by The Malaysian Insider found two more blocks with wood panelled walls in Jalan Hang Tuah.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Phesal Talib told The Malaysian Insider that City Hall was focused on improving the low-cost flats in the area.

"We have to improve those dilapidated blocks of PPR (low-cost flats) and at the same time, think of redeveloping some of the rundown dwelling areas," he said.

Phesal said City Hall would collaborate with the private sector on the redevelopment of the area.

It was reported in New Straits Times last year that City Hall would conduct an inspection of the blocks of flats which had walls made of wood.

Phesal had said that City Hall would assess the buildings before possibly changing the walls of units located in vulnerable positions.

“In our initial inspection, we found that the units affected by the storm were located at the corners.

“This is a vulnerable position as it is susceptible to damage from strong winds and freak storms," he had said. – July 6, 2015.