The Steep Driveway Saga at Vistana Heights: A Question of Accountability and the Puzzling Path to Occupancy
An Update on Lot S2's Access Nightmares
In a follow-up to my ongoing documentation of the challenges at Vistana Heights in Taman Ira Manis, Kota Kinabalu, I've now incorporated two striking photos that capture the real-world perils of Lot S2's infamous steep driveway. These images show an Isuzu lorry in a bid to conquer the incline: its front bumper ground against the slope, ultimately requiring on-site removal just to inch its way up. It's a stark visual testament to how this design flaw turns routine deliveries into high-stakes ordeals.
This isn't hyperbole—these photos complement the two videos I shared earlier in my blog post [ link ], where everyday vehicles struggle or fail entirely to reach the porch. For residents, this isn't just inconvenient; it's a daily hazard that demands "careful consideration" for anything beyond a 4WD. But as one affected homeowner, I've come to realize that caution alone doesn't cut it. The deeper scandal lies in how such a property ever became habitable in the eyes of the law.
How Did DBKK Greenlight the Occupancy Certificate?
At the heart of this mess is a burning question: How on earth did Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK), the local authority responsible for building approvals, issue an Occupancy Certificate (OC) for Lot S2—and indeed, much of Vistana Heights—despite glaring access violations? The OC, granted in October 2019 for my son's unit (handed over in December that year), is supposed to certify that a building complies with safety, accessibility, and planning standards under Sabah's building regulations.
Yet here we are, years later, with driveways that defy basic vehicular access.
According to the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) 2022, which outlines requirements for vehicular and fire appliance access these inclines should never have passed muster.
Fire trucks and ambulances? Forget it; the gradient is nearly four feet steeper than the one-foot specified in the original development plan, turning potential emergencies into catastrophes.
Engineers and the architect involved have washed their hands of it, pointing squarely at DBKK: "They approved the plan and issued the OC."
Worse still, allegations of a fabricated as-built survey—showing a mere one-foot height difference between road and platform, when reality clocks in at four feet—suggest over-certification by the architect, the principal submitting officer, greased the wheels for that OC.
I've lodged complaints with the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM) since February 2023, plus the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) branches in Sabah and KL, but no investigations, no accountability. Meanwhile, related defects like missing retaining walls and land collapses have left neighboring units abandoned, eroding property values across the board.
The developer? They've griped to DBKK about homeowners' makeshift driveway extensions (a desperate band-aid for the slope) but won't touch the root cause.
This isn't isolated—Vistana Heights has been plagued by "sick housing" woes since at least 2023, with buyers feeling let down by everyone from developers to regulators.
The Housing Development Enactment was meant to shield us from abandoned or defective projects, yet here we are, chasing shadows for justice.
A Call for Real Change
These photos and videos aren't just evidence—they're a plea for scrutiny. How does a system rubber-stamp an OC for uninhabitable homes? DBKK must revisit these approvals, enforce UBBL standards, and hold architects and developers to account.
In the meantime, check my blog for the full timeline, including emails to authorities that have gone unanswered.
Stay safe out there—because right now, that driveway is teaching us the hard way what "approved" really means.
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