That is bad advice, how did you come up with "Normally 2ft x 2ft is adequate" are you an Engineer and calculated it or have you ever referred to the Building Codes? I think not.

Don't give your tidak ada opinion and present it as sound advice. It is misleading to people that might foolishly follow your advice.

Cheers

first of all, I'm not expert in physics nor construction line. Just that I'm currently renovating my house.
You plan to extend with upper floor, you must get permit from local council together with architectural drawing. It must be fully endorsed by certified architect and engineer. From the drawing, there must have the specification on the foundations. Those experts must have taken into consideration on factors, like soil condition, load factor and future maximal weight bearing...
Can't be wrong if you comply details from them (somehow), else sue them if structure failure!!!

NOT TRUE!

The original developer would have had to lodge construction plans INCLUDING SOIL SAMPLE REPORTS to the local authorities. The Engineer doing the calculations for the renovations can easily refer to these soil tests and then apply the appropriate calculations to come up with the correct footing size.

Don't cut corners or follow most contractors tidak apa attitude, if you do uyou will be one of the many that come to this forum to post pictures of their problems and ask for help/advice to solve the problems.

First I talked only about footing, not column. First thing first, are you disputing the suggested footing?

2nd, whether it is footing or specification for columns what you suggest TS to do? Hire engineer? Yes, that is the right way to do but that is a bomb to pay. There are shortcuts and alternatives and am suggesting if you cannot go by air go by sea, something like that. Shortcut sometime is even better and more effective, save time and effort and money.

There are many ways of solving a problem when we think out of box especially when the cost of doing it "correctly" is beyond reasonable as far as price/cost is concerned in this case.

One other think out of box or shortcuts is go to the developer and look for the architecture or structural drawing and follow. Another place to get such information is from the land office or local council (am not sure which one). The authority should have such information or request such information when approving housing projects.

So, hiring an engineer is also not a definite answer compare to what has been done by the developer more thoroughly done, than one personally hired engineer, in a big or bigger project of many houses.

It is healthy to dispute and everyone learn from each other. I was not thinking of column but only footing which is only a part of the whole reno consideration.

Cheers

Single story extension is considered a light weight structure, so it has less fatality risk. That is why majlis dont really bother to look at it. However if the extension involves slab roofing, its a whole diffent story.