About 200 residents of Desa Permai Indah had their maintenance services cut off from yesterday for failure to settle about RM500,000 in service charges.

The management company had put up notices at all six 12-storey blocks in Sungai Dua stating that maintenance services for the 12 lifts had been terminated, which meant "the residents will be using the lifts at their own risk."

The company had also switched off the timer for the corridor lights, taken off the security guards, ceased the collection of garbage and cleaning services, and stopped maintenance service at the swimming pool.

The residents association acting vice-chairman Aloysious Dawson said yesterday the problem started when many residents refused to pay the 33% increase in monthly service charges imposed since March this year.

"We feel the company can still manage the place by charging 9 sen per sq ft," he said.

With the increase, the charges had gone up from between RM82.80 and RM174.60 to between RM110.13 and RM232.22 per unit, depending on the size.

Another resident Y. K. Ong urged the company to provide an explanation as to the status of the sinking fund.

Ismail Hashim, executive director of Hamna Sdn Bhd, the project's developer, said maintenance services had to be terminated effective yesterday because many residents refused to settle their service charge debts.

"The amount owing is over RM500,000 as at Aug 31," he said, adding that Hamna had referred the matter to the state authorities.

The medium-cost apartments were built on state land under the state government's privatisation scheme.