The Majlis Perbandaran Sungai Petani [(MPSP(K)] does not seem to have noticed that the owner of  a newly-completed double-storey house in Taman Intan is doing odd things.

First, he appropriated about 150 sq ft of a cul-de-sac in front of the house. Now he has extended the side to almost touch the boundary between his house and the neighbouring house, although the rules say there must be a two-metre free space between the boundary and the building.

In March 2014 we wrote to the Pentadbir Tanah Daerah Kuala Muda informing him that the owner of Plot No 240 had taken up part of the cul-de-sac fronting his house to enlarge his house compound. He had demolished the original front garden wall and brought it out by a few feet to include part of the cul-de-sac. We asked whether this had been legally done.

At the same time we wrote to the Pengarah Jabatan Perancang Bandar dan Desa in Alor Setar enquiring whether the layout of Lorong Intan A-4 had been changed so that a cul-de-sac was no longer required at the end of this lane.

Both did not reply and in June we wrote to the Pengarah Tanah dan Galian Negeri Kedah in Alor Setar and to the Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Desa in Jalan Cenderasari Kuala Lumpur.

Again there was no reply from either of them despite our letters being sent by AR Registered mail and receipt acknowledged by all the four parties.

So much for asking the public to be the eyes and ears of the government.

Not only were we not given any replies, but no action was taken as the wall still stands on the cul-de-sac and now the side of the house has been extended right up to its boundary with the next house in total disregard of the two-metre clearance requirement.

Why did the Land Office in Sungai Petani, the Land Office in Alor Setar, the Town and Country Planning Department in Alor Setar and the Head Office of the Town and Country Planning Department in KL turn a blind eye to our letters?

Does this mean that every other house owner who has a cul-de-sac fronting his house can take up part of it to enlarge his house compound, and that every house owner who has a side-yard can build on it right up to the boundary with the next house?

RAVINDER SINGH is chairperson of the Taman Intan Residents Association, Sungai Petani, Kedah.