7/31/2019 Press Statement by Cheong Yin Fan on Guan Eng Bungalow

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2nd July, 2009Press Statement by Cheong Yin Fan,

Press Secretary to Chief Minister of Penang

Termite infestation renders Seri Teratai (the official resident of ChiefMinister) an unsafe structure and not safe to be occupiedAn inspection was carried out recently by NLC General Pest Control(North), a company appointed by the Chief Minister, over the officialresidence of the Chief Minister at Seri Teratai. In the report submitted on30th June 2009, the company found 3 active termite spots in the residence.Some parts of the roof section is no longer structurally safe as a result ofthe infestation. In addition to the termite problem, forest fire ants were

found in one section of the house. These ants are dangerous to children.The inspection was requested earlier when the Chief Minister discoveredthat there were signs of termite damage in the residence a few weeksback. The formal and thorough inspection was done on 29th June 2009.The damage includes:

B) Active spot of subterranean termite Coptotermes spp1) Cabinet No 3 in the upstairs meeting room active soldier gushing

out from the wooden crevices upon disturbed by undersigned2) Tapping sound of soldier termites can be heard inside the wooden

panel of the cupboard in the master room upstairs3) Active subterranean termites can be detected inside the mud tunnel

created along the wall and wooden floor panel at ground floorpassage way

B) Old sign of subterranean termite attack1) Ground floor toilet wall crevices as a result of termites mud tunnel2) Ground floor dinning hall plaster ceiling full with subterranean mud

tunnel3) Ground floor main entrance floor skirting found sign of attack bytermite

4) Ground floor main entrance wooden panel found sign of termiteattack

5) Destructive subterranean termite colony was found in the cabinet ofupstairs meeting room

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6) Severe damage has been caused by the subterranean termites tothe beam. A section of the roof beams is now hollow, having beenconsumed by the termites and found to be unsafe to be occupied

7) Signs of subterranean termite attack found at the underground airwell chamber. A section of wooden beam has been replaced by

steel bar as support.C) Others pest status:

1) Forest Fire Ants (Semut Selangor) infestation at external apron andceiling area

2) Civet Cat (Musang) fresh dropping can be detected at the roofceiling area

According to the pest consultant, treatment by means of spot spraying ordusting will eventually repel the termites to other unaffected areas and thus

creating more damages spot inside the premise

The consultant strongly recommended the official resident to install theSentricon System, with In-Ground (IG) Monitoring system and Above-Ground (AG) bait stations for colony elimination to protect the structure.The installation process is totally non-disruptive to property owners.The Chief Minister Y.A.B. Lim Guan Eng will make announcement at theappropriate timing once any further decision make.

Released by:

(CHEONG YIN FAN)Press Secretary to Chief Minister of Penang

Caption of the pictures:1) Destructive subterranean termite was found inside cabinet of

upstairs meeting room.2) A sections of the roof beams is now hollow, consumed by the

termites and found to be unsafe to be occupied

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3) Ground floor toilet wall crevices as a result of termites mudtunnel

4) Active subterranean termites can be detected inside the mudtunnel created along the wall and wooden floor panel at groundfloor passage way

5) Ground floor main entrance floor skirting found signs of attackby termites

6) Sign of subterranean termite attack found at the undergroundair well chamber.

7) Photo shows a worker inspected the underground structure ofthe official resident. At right shown that a section of woodenbeam has been replaced by steel bar as support.

8) Upstairs wooden skirting board shown sign of subterraneantermite attack.

9) Screw driver can be slot in the beam showing how hollow themiddle of the beam is.

10) Bad condition of a cupboard upstairs after attack bytermites

11) Serious damage done by subterranean termite attack inone of the rooms on the ceiling board and beam area.

12) Forest Fire Ants infestation, harmful to children, wasfound in many areas inside the official residence

13) Ground floor plaster ceiling damage