KUALA LUMPUR: Pudu Impian 1 low-cost flats residents fear they would experience an incident like the one that killed a teenager at Seri Pantai People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats in Pantai Dalam.
Newly elected Pudu Impian 1 residents association chairman Lai Hin Loong said falling objects are so common at the single-block 19-storey flats that at least one car windscreen or roof is damaged every month.
Lai, 41, who has lived at the flats for more than 10 years, said parking was a hassle for residents due to insufficient lots, so they had no choice but to park below the apartment.
“We have to pray daily that nothing happens to our cars and vehicles when we return to it because many residents’ cars have been damaged by falling objects, like beer bottles, batteries and other household items,” he said after a visit by Cheras MCA secretary Datuk Dr Toh Kian Kok and Cheras MCA Women’s chief Heng Sinn Yee to the dilapidated flat compound.
Yesterday, Lai called for a gathering to remind residents to be more civic conscious and mindful of their surroundings and living environment after the case of Sathiswaran Sathiasilan, 14, who was killed after a chair fell on him at his flats last Monday.
During the visit, the New Straits Times spotted four cars with damaged roofs or windscreens, believed to be due to residents’ negligence.
Lai said there were about 900 residents, with 20 units on each floor, at the single-block flats, which only had one lift.
“There are three lifts, but two stopped working last year. The working lift breaks down often, at least one or twice a week. Some residents throw things to their friends on the ground floor because of this,” he said, adding that even closed-circuit television cameras installed around the flats compound had been vandalised.
He said it could cost more than RM1,000 to repair the CCTV, while the broken lifts were beyond repair and needed to be replaced.
“We do not have the funds to repair the lifts or the CCTV as we just took over from the old residents’ association and we are starting from scratch.”
It is learnt that the old management handed over the responsibility to the new committee three months ago, with a huge amount of maintenance debt.
After the visit, Toh appealed to City Hall to look into Pudu Impian 1 residents’ plight.
He said two deaths could have been avoided if the lifts worked.
“We don’t want another resident to die before there are changes. It would be too late. We just want the basic necessities, like the lifts, cleanliness and security features.”
In November, the residents’ association applied for funds from City Hall to repair and replace the lift and CCTV via the Tabung Penyelenggaraan 1Malaysia, but the request was turned down.
Toh said: “Last year, the association approached City Hall with residents’ grouses, but City Hall said it had run out of funds. We have resubmitted the application this year. Hopefully, City Hall will approve and expedite the funds disbursement for repair work to commence.”
He urged residents to be vigilant and look out for one another, especially when staying in a multi-storey building.
“As neighbours, we must be responsible for our actions. Always think before you do anything, which could affect others living and sharing the same environment and amenities,” Toh said, urging residents to be more civic conscious.