House cracking up due to roadworks in Kuching

Owner's complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

KUCHING: The Joebenny family have not been able to use the toilet and kitchen at home since Christmas — all due to roadworks nearby.

Stephen Joebenny lives with his 82-year-old mother and his sibling in a house by the roadside in Kampung Sudat.

Just metres away is a massive road-widening project that began without warning on Dec 23.

A massive trench is being dug. It cuts across the family property, Stephen said.

Additionally, no reinforcements were made for the foundation of the house, which were left exposed by the construction work.

Stephen, 46, said to use the toilet, “we go to the shops opposite. We don’t dare to go to our toilet because it can slide down any time.”

The toilet and kitchenette located at the back of the house are now off limits.

The 46-year-old labourer said he had lodged complaints to the Padawan Municipal Council and the Public Works Department, but to no avail

“They just told us to go away,” said Stephen.

Cracks started to appear on the house two weeks ago after heavy rain.

Stephen said the house had begun to tilt and he was worried the rainy season may further erode the structure of the house.

Michael Chong, Stephen’s brother-in-law, said the family had sought help from political parties to highlight their situation.

“The people inside cannot sleep peacefully. They have been living in worry and fear for the past few weeks,” Chong told reporters today.

Present were DAP Stampin MP Julian Tan and his special assistant, Dr Kelvin Yii.

“Private citizens should not have to be left alone to deal with government agencies,” Tan told reporters.

The road leading out of southwest Kuching, Jalan Datuk Stephen Yong Link, has seen major upgrading works over the past few weeks.

Other residents of Kampung Sudat have also complained about damaged roads as well as the lack of street lighting in the area.

In a news report last week, Abdul Aziz Isa, special assistant to state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, said the party learnt of the problems during a recent visit to the village. -FMT