InVinoVeritas

Apparently they can be quite delicious if they are smoked

bakedbean

These are nasty. I've heard of a few friends in Batu Ferringhi being "attacked" by them. They seem to be more common in the jungley areas. I remember a member from the old forum and wife (now ex) who were living in Bayu Ferringhi at the time (let's rubbish another condo eh ) and they looked a real mess like they had severe measles.... very nasty.

JC3

I think you're still missing the point.
Drywood termites do not live in the soil. They need no connection to the ground or soil as other termites do. They can spend almost their entire lives inside of dry wood such as the wood in your home, they can fly and they can easily travel from one condo unit to another. There's plenty of wood in a condo, from window frames to doors, from furniture to kitchen cabinets, from stud walls to skirting boards.

JC3

InVinoVeritas

But drywood termites are not at all common in Malaysia. You will see from this Penang study below that none of the properties surveyed for infestations were condominiums and none of the termites found were of the drywood variety:-

https://www.researchgate.net/publica...Kedah_Malaysia

In fact you're more likely to see a Norwegian Blue in Penang than a drywood termite.

JC3

Interesting that every one of the 25 houses the University students chose to inspect did have termites. The damaged areas included parquet floors, carpet grippers, door frames, window frames, kitchen cabinets, tables, and books. No idea how they selected the houses, nor why they chose not to inspect any condos.

Not as common as subterranean termites in Malaysia for sure, but Cryptotermes brevis is more frequently introduced into new locations than any other termite species in the world. As a drywood termite, it is able to extract enough moisture from the wood in which it lives for survival and can thus easily be transported unknowingly to new locations. So look out – did your condo developer use poor quality termite infested wood or other materials? Have they spread from another condo unit or the common area to your own unit, or are termites present in that furniture or kitchen cupboards you just bought?

JC3

teejaydee

According to Dr Chow-Yang Lee, Professor of Entomology (Urban & Industrial) at Universiti Sains Malaysia:

"For better or worse, Malaysia is home to a rich diversity of termites, thanks to our location in the tropics. A total of 175 species of Peninsular Malaysian termites have been identified..."

"In general, there are two groups of destructive termites in Malaysia: dry wood termites and subterranean termites. While the former type is normally found in old furniture, kitchen cabinets, and door frames, the damage caused by them is relatively minor compared to that which is wreaked by subterranean termites that live in the soil".

Of termites & men

teejaydee

MUST-CHECK LIST BEFORE BUYING A HIGH-RISE PROPERTY
>
>
> Check for leaks, termites or plumbing and electrical wiring defects.

Ideal condo-living | theSundaily

InVinoVeritas

Because condos don't have termite infestations

JC3

Except the ones that do. But pretend they don't. And Malaysians are the world's best drivers....

JC3

Davita

That's useful information...logically, by killing termites, we are making the earth lighter thus it is floating closer to the sun...QED....Global Warming.
It's Rentokil's fault...

JC3

Like cattle.
Bugger global warming, where's my steak?

JC3

InVinoVeritas

OK, I'll wave the white flag on ONE condition....YOU find a condo or someone who has a condo or someone who has had a condo or someone who knows someone who had or has had a condo, WITH a termite infestion, OTHER THAN the one at Marina Bay that has been reported 10 times on the internet but which DOES NOT EXIST!

JC3

Blimey IVV! Do you want me to make your tea, and drink it for you too?

I would refer you my Post No 7:
Search on Google for "Penang condominium infested with termites" and you'll see some examples.
And to my Post No 10:
For termites search on Termites in Condos and you'll see it's no myth.

Too late now. Here you go:

Pangsapuri Jaya, Shah Alam
Residents fume over termite trouble

Bukit OUG Condominium, Bukit Jalil
Bukit OUG Condominium, Bukit Jalil | Propwall

Apartments infested by termites in Sibu at crisis level
Apartments infested by termites in Sibu at crisis level - Community | The Star Online

Pangsapuri Subang Jaya
Real Estate Investments in Malaysia: January 2010

Straits View Condominium at Permas Jaya
Country Towers

Lavinia Apartment, Sungai Nibong, Penang
Lavinia Apartment

Condo management — a pesky problem
Condo management � a pesky problem



As I have said, finding out the warts and all truth about property in Malaysia is notoriously very difficult. As an example, in the case of a potential termite problem I would want to:

A) Ask the Building Supervisor what he knows

B) Ask the Building Supervisor whether the Common Property is treated for termites, how often, and if not, why not?

C) Read the minutes of the Management Corporation meetings to see what, if anything, they say about the problem. (Those for 2007 and 2008 in the case of Marina Bay).


Note that if Management Committee Members are on the ball they might choose not to include any statement in the MC Meeting Minutes about a problem that could devalue the re-sale value of their own or other units at the condo. Not least because by law the minutes of MC meetings must be publically displayed on the condo noticeboard.

In any event if you’re looking to buy or rent a strata property, before making any commitment it is a good idea to read:
a) the last two years’ MC meeting minutes and
b) the current House Rules

Note that the House Rules may not be properly enforced, and the Building Supervisor or a member of the MC (usually identifiable via the minutes on the noticeboard) can be a goldmine of information. Chat to them first and there should be fewer unwelcome surprises.
It’s worth asking them which of the house rules they find most difficult to enforce. For example the House Rules may say ‘No Pets’ or ‘Minimum Rental Term One Month’ (to prevent short term holiday rentals) but the real situation may be very different.

JC3

InVinoVeritas

Selangor in 2002?!? A 5-storey building?!?

KL jungle?!? Reported cases on "some units", date unknown?!?

Walk-up flat in Sibu Jaya, East Malaysia?!? In 2010?!?

Ground floor apartment near KL in 2010?!?

Johor, 2010?!? Termites in wooden debris left after construction, 6 units affected but no details?!?

Finally one in Penang! But 2009?!? And hearsay at that?!?

And now Port Dickson! One owner pissed-off about more than termites in 2008?!?

Admit it JC3 - you called it wrong!

JC3

What you said:
OK, I'll wave the white flag on ONE condition....YOU find a condo ...

That's ONE Condo, IVV.


Termites are infesting Straits View Condominium at Permas Jaya and our neighbours at Taman Rinting and Megah Ria. Country Towers is not spared as 6 units were affected and the management is tackling the problem now.

That's at least TWO condos infested by termites in just one example - The Country Towers AND Straits View Condominium.

I hereby graciously accept your surrender.

Please don't move the goalposts!

JC3