No go for condo project

City Hall issues stop-work oeder on Platinum Hill Condominium

After ednless complaints from residents in Taman Melati Utama in Setapak of noise pollution from a neighbouring condominium project, City Hall yesterday sealed off the entrace to the Platinum Hill projects and issued a stop-work order to the developer.

Malay Mail visited the area and found a City Hall notice dated Oct 19 on the sealed entrance directiong the developer to cease work with immediate effect.

Addressed to the developer, Platinum Victory Sdn Bhd, with a carbon copy to the CL Architect, the noticce from the City Hall Development Department signed by Zamizi Zakaria, the assistant building surveyor of the department, said the developer had breeched Section 70 (13)(d) of the Road, Drainage and Buildings Act 1974.

City Hall stated the notice was due to provisions under the Act which the developer had ignored, namely, carrying out beyond the permitted hours.

The notice warned that if the developer ignored the notice and continued constuction work it was liable for prosecution under Section 70 of said Act. Several construction workers who were staying on the site said the City Hall officers came inh the morning and sealed off the place.

"We noticed several vehicles at the entrance in the morining but as we were not working today (Oct 19) we did not know about ther matter until one of our supervisors came and told us that work has been temporarily suspended until further notice," said one of the workers.

Meanwhile, Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong, who has been quite vocal in taking up the complaints of the residents in the area, said it was about time City Hall acted.

"We hope City Hall takes the complaints of the residents seriously,"Wee told MAlay Mail in a telephone interview.

In the past City Hall has been issing ultimatums and warnings to the developer of Platinum Hill condominium that has been the causing residents in Taman Melati Utama to suffer sleepless nights.

Earlier, developer Platinum Victory has been ordered to carry out work only during the permitted hours from 8am to 6pm, Mondays to Saturdays. The last directive, before yesterday's stop work order, was issued at a meeting chaired by City Hall's Public Affairs and International Unit head, Anwar Mohd Zain in August.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Platinum Victory, Wee and a number of Taman Melati Utama residents who have benn demanding for an end to the noise pollution in their area.

"The developer said they needed to complete the project as soon as possible and that working longer hours was the only solution. But we can't be complying with developer's convenience because this is a matter of public interest,"he said.

Wee added that since project started on March 13, 2007, it had been a nuisance to residents, not only with the noise after working hours but also the waterlogged construction site that worries residents about Aedes mosquitoes breeding there.

"City Hall has been very 'develper-friendly' and it's about time it looked into the needs of the public,"he said.

If PVSB fails to comply with the latest City Hall directive, it can face action under Section 70 of the Road, Drainage and BUildings Act, 1970 and can be directed by a court to stop work immediately.

Should such action be taken, the company will be liable to a fine of up to Rm 50,000 or a jail term of up to three years or both.

By Malay Mail