| James Kon |

A FIVE-STOREY residential flat on Jalan Kumbang Pasang in the capital was forced to be vacated after the Authority for Building Control and Construction Industry (ABCi) found the building to be unsafe to live in, due to active tilting following reports and inspections.

Nine families who were staying at the building at Flat Number 133, Block C, were issued with a notice of building closure yesterday by officers from the ABCi.

The Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) have cordoned the area off with tape to prevent the public from entering the building premises and its surrounding areas.

The ABCi and RBPF are currently working together with the building owners to monitor the situation.

“This is a first-of-its-kind case,” said quantity surveyor at the ABCi Haji Ismail bin Haji Hamdan.

“The building is around 35 years old and consists of 10-unit apartments. Tenants who occupied nine apartment units were asked to vacate the building from June 3-10 after the building was found unsafe to stay in due to active tilting following a report lodged on May 26 by the building owner.

“A reading of the tilting metre carried out by a consultant revealed a bit of movement, and today we [are enforcing the closure of the building] to prevent the general public from entering it. The unsafe building will be demolished, and the demolition procedure must be forwarded to the ABCi by the consultant as fast as possible.

“Under the Building Control Order 2014, buildings that have obtained the Occupation Permit will need to get inspected after five years,” Haji Ismail added.

For further inquiries, members of the public can contact the enforcement section of the ABCi, Ministry of Development at 2380429 or via WhatsApp at 8140365, or send an email to [email protected]