MALACCA: A family of five are worried that their new double storey corner house, which started cracking and sinking two years ago, might crumble on them. 

The new house, which stationery wholesaler Phay Soon Siang, his seven-month pregnant wife Koh Sok Peng, and their three children called home, has cracks with a gap of about 1.5cm. 

Phay, 52, said that when he received the keys to the RM218,000 house in June 2004, he had already noticed hairline cracks on the walls and complained to the developer, who subsequently had the cracks cemented.  

The family moved in some five months later after the renovations to the back and side of the house, to include a balcony and kitchen, were completed.  

That was when their nightmare began. The cracks became bigger and the house even started to sink.  

Cause for concern: Phay (right) showing the cracks in his home in Taman Bachang Baru, Malacca, to Chua recently.

“In these two years, I think I have complained to the developer around four or five times but except for that one time that they cemented the cracks, they did not do anything else. 

“The person we spoke to told us that they were not to be blamed as the cracks were caused by our renovations. 

“But the cracks were already there even before we did any renovation,” Phay told a press conference here yesterday.  

He claimed that many of his neighbours who had purchased corner lots faced the same problem. 

For Koh, she was more concerned aboutthe safety of her children aged between six and 12 and her unborn baby.  

“I do not know what is going to happen but every day we live fearing something terrible might happen,” Koh said, adding that he finally turned to the Federation of Malaysia Consumer Association (Fomca) for help.  

Fomca adviser Chua Tee Kim said he would be writing to the Malacca City Council (MBMB) regarding the matter and also urged the developer to look into the matter seriously. 

“I have asked Phay to compile all the relevant documents, and we will write to MBMB,” said Chua. 

He added that the sinking was so bad that even the floor tiles had come undone.  

Chua said that when he visited the home it was frightening as well as worrying to see the cement on the walls falling away, with cracks as wide as 1.5cm. 

“Luckily there are no lorries or heavy vehicles passing around in the area. Otherwise I think it would be even worse,” said Chua.  

Meanwhile, when contacted, Kumpulan Jaymuda group managing director Datuk Wong Soon Lim said the management was looking into Phay’s complaint and had already appointed engineers to investigate the matter. 

“We have to find out whether the complaint is valid or not, but once a complaint is on file, we will definitely investigate the matter. 

“If the buyers are not agreeable with our engineer’s report, we can always have a neutral investigation and mutually appoint another party to investigate again. It can be done,” said Wong. 

He added he expected the engineer’s report to be ready in two weeks.