KUCHING, April 27: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) has been reminded by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak not to bully, but help an elderly land owner of Jalan Semaba, Kuching.
Directing the reminder to MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang, DAP Sarawak Chief Chong Chieng Jen has called on the council to provide proper drainage to the residents of MPP, especially the landowner of Jalan Semaba Lot 101A.
“Lo Khere Chiang, as the Majlis Perbandaran Padawan chairman, should stop its SUPP-nominated councillor from bullying and terrorising the elderly landowner of Jalan Semaba Lot 161A.
“The drainage design and approved by MPP has allowed water from the concrete drains from the main road of Jalan Semaba, Lorong 7, 9 and 10 thereof to be discharged through the natural earth drain along Lot 161A, thereby causing severe soil erosion along the boundary of Lot 161A, and thus causing the sinking of the concrete slab on Lot 161A adjacent to the earth drain and the building structure thereon.
“For several years, the landowner of Lot 161A has approached MPP to resolve the problem but to no avail. Meanwhile, the soil erosion and land sinking problem worsened and damage to the building structure got worse,” said Chong in a statement today.
Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman said finally, two weeks ago, the landowner approached him to write on her behalf to request MPP to construct a concrete drain along the natural earth drain to prevent further erosion to her land.
“Instead of replying to my letter, the MPP Councillor, Tnay Li Ping called up the landowner and scolded the landowner for asking me to help write letter on her behalf to MPP, and even threatened to cancel the project,” Chong claimed.
He said councils have been collecting assessment rates from landowners and house owners. To provide a proper drainage system is one of the basic responsibilities of the Council.
To Chong, the landowner of Lot 161A has lived there for more than 40 years and had dutifully paid the assessment rates to the Council all these years. Yet, because of the improper design of the drainage system of MPP, she suffers damage to her property.
“The excuse of council’s money cannot be used to repair private property is not a valid excuse because the damage to the property was caused by improper and irresponsible act of the council in allowing access water from its designed drains to discharge through private drains, thereby causing damage to private property.
“This is the basic law of torts and basic responsibility of the Council.
“Therefore, I urge MPP to quickly remedy the situation by constructing a concrete drain over the earth drain before any further unfortunate incident happens. This is the basic responsibility of MPP as the collector of assessment rates,” said the Stampin MP.
