Luyang house owner warned to clear mess

CITY HALL staff will keep an eye on a house, off Lorong Angsana, in Luyang to ensure that the owner tends to the compound regularly.

This follows a complaint that the property was a mess, with overgrown trees and weeds covering the yard. There was also feedback about a foul odour coming from the direction of the premises.

The agency confirmed that these concerns were warranted during a preliminary check of the house at the beginning of the month.

A spokeswoman for City Hall’s Health and Environment Department said both its inspectors and staff from the Community Development Leader’s Unit (CDLU) for Luyang were overwhelmed by what they saw during the inspection.

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The former were put off by the bad smell coming from the direction of the many bagged items piled up inside and outside the house, according to her. She said the latter, on the other hand, were taken aback by the “mini jungle” that had sprung up at the address

“One inspector observed stacks of plastic bags in a door way, as well as in the compound. The mess reminded him of what he had seen on the US reality show ‘Extreme Hoarders’, “she said.

Plastic bags of waste have been stacked up inside and outside the house.

“The other could not take the whiff coming from whatever was inside the bags. The two masks, covering his nose and mouth, did little to dull the strong smell and, for a time, he considered putting on a third one in the hopes that this would reduce the discomfort he felt.”

She said the CDLU representative could not get over the sight of the overgrown branches and creepers spilling over from the property. “The perimeter fence could not be seen and, if the homeowner had not been present, there would have been some difficulty locating the entrance to the land as the front gate was partly hidden by the unkempt greenery.”

She said the occupant of the residence was asked about these irregularities.

“The occupant explained that the bags contained food scraps which she was turning into compost. She told the group that the egg shells, among this waste, released an uncomfortable odour when they were broken down.

The main entrance to this Luyang home is hidden by the overgrown trees and weeds.

“As for the trees and plants which had overrun the compound, she claimed that these were ‘herbs’ which she was growing.”

The spokeswoman said, before they left, City Hall staff gave her a verbal warning to clean up her home as it was becoming a nuisance to the public in the area.

She said the agency’s inspectors had returned to this address twice since this first check. Five officers from the Kota Kinabalu Health Office (KKHO) joined them during the second inspection which was carried out in the second week of September. “KKHO personnel served the homeowner with a ‘Notis pungutan jentik-jentik (mosquito larvae collection notice)’. Samples were later taken of the fluids found in the flower pots and other containers in her yard.”

City Hall personnel fogging the common area and road in front of the house.

The individual also received a City Hall notice, at the time, instructing her to clean up her compound.

“She agreed to remove the unwanted items, including rubbish and empty receptacles, in her yard,” the spokeswoman said. “Additionally, she told us that she would attend to her overgrown trees and plants.”

She said City Hall had the premises and housing road fogged at around 5pm a day after this joint inspection.

“Our Landscaping Department is arranging to prune the branches which are hanging over the fence.”

The spokeswoman said the homeowner had been given a grace-period in which to meet City Hall’s requirements.

“Further action will be taken against her, if she fails to do so. We might even initiate legal proceedings if she doesn’t keep her word.

“Both our personnel and KKHO staff will check on the goings-on at the residence from time to time.”

NICHOLAS of Luyang bemoaned the condition of the house in Taman Kinabalu as being an eye sore.

“It creates a bad impression of the neighbourhood, especially in the eyes of first time visitors,” he said.

“Many of those who are unfamiliar with the area get the impression that the house might be abandoned. They are shocked to learn that there is someone staying there.”

He decried the homeowner as being irresponsible for failing to maintain his/ her land.

Health Dept staff take samples of the fluids found in the empty containers inside the compound.

“It looks like a nature reserve. The overgrown greenery on the grounds is a potential fire hazard. “If the compound were to be set alight, the properties next door, including a kindergarten, might also go up in flames.”

Nicholas wanted to know whether the local authorities could be held liable for the damage and loss of lives if this happened.

He said one of his neighbours related these concerns to City Hall a few years ago.

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“The compound was attended to some time later, but it has since become unkempt again.

“I cannot understand how City Hall could have turned a blind eye to this problem.”

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