Response to DBKK letter dated 15.7.2025
The DBKK letter (Ref: JKBn: S/1045, dated 15th July 2025) was addressed to me and copied to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Sabah Ministry of Public Works, Department of Lands and Surveys, Sabah Town and Regional Planning Department, LPPB, and the Sabah State Integrity and Governance Division. I shall email my response to all relevant parties.
Here is my reply to the points raised in the letter:
Point 2:
The survey conducted by TerraFirma Surveyors indicates that the road surface level in front of Lot S9 is 31.05 meters (101.87 feet).
My Response:
If this figure of 31.05 meters was in the as-built survey plan provided to me by DBKK and the Malaysian Institute of Architects, I would not have raised this issue. However, this figure does not appear in the as-built survey plan submitted to DBKK and shared with me. Please refer to the enlarged diagram at LINK for clarification.
Point 3:
The Civil & Structural Consultant, Zaidun Leeng (S) Sdn Bhd, has confirmed that there is no need to construct a retaining wall behind Lot S9, stating that the slope behind Lot S9 is a natural gradient. This confirmation aligns with the approved development plan and the structural plan for the retaining wall submitted by Zaidun Leeng (S) Sdn Bhd and registered with Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
Here is the Malay Version I translated from:
Selain itu, pihak Perunding Sivil & Struktur, Zaidun Leeng (S) Sdn Bhd. Telah mengesahkan tiada keperluan untuk membina tembok penahan di belakang Lot S9 dan memaklumkan kecuranan tanah di belakang Lot S9 merupakan cerun semulajadi. Pengesahan ini adalah selaras dengan kelulusan pelan pembangunan dan pelan struktur tembok penahan yang di kemukakan oleh perunding sivil & struktur, Zaidun Leeng (S) Sdn Bhd. Dan di daftarkan di Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu.Translation Accuracy:
The English translation accurately reflects the original Malay text. It correctly conveys that Zaidun Leeng (S) Sdn Bhd confirmed no retaining wall is needed behind Lot S9, that the slope is a natural gradient, and that this aligns with the approved development and structural plans registered with Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
My Concerns and Questions: The original Development Plan from 1995 noted a gentle slope behind Lots S1, S2, S17, and S18. What explanation does the civil and structural engineer provide for the collapse of this slope?
See photos attached to my post at LINK for the soil collapse behind S1&S2 and S17&S18. Please also look at the photo of the crack behind house no S5.
My complaint specifically concerns the steep cliff behind Lots S3 to S8. The land collapse in this area reduced the size of these lots and shifted their rear boundaries forward, as observable from the back of Lot S9 and noted in the as-built survey submitted to DBKK.
Here is a part of the as-built survey diagram that shows the boundaries behind houses S3 to S8 reduced by more than 6 feet.The boundary line behind S8 is shorter than S9. The boundary line for S7 to S3 are even shorter than S8.
Below is the original Development Plan dated 1995. The boundary line behind the houses is one straight line.When you enlarge the image you will see that the length from the front to the back is the same for the houses from S1 to S 9.
Another question you may ask yourself is what happened to the gentle slope behind all these houses shown in the development plan below.
If any of the houses behind Lots S3 to S8 were to collapse, the entire Vistana Heights development could be deemed uninhabitable.
The letter states, “This confirmation is consistent with the approved development plan and the structural plan for the retaining wall submitted by the civil & structural consultant, Zaidun Leeng (S) Sdn Bhd, and registered with the Kota Kinabalu City Hall.”
What does this mean exactly?
Was a structural plan for a retaining wall actually submitted by Zaidun Leeng (S) Sdn Bhd?
If so, isn’t this the core issue I have been raising all along.
Was that a slip of the pen?
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