Penang CPO: Don’t act beyond the law

The Star 17/11/2003

Police warned property managers of an apartment complex against intimidating residents to make them pay maintenance fees. 

State police chief DCP Datuk Othman Talib said property managers should not act beyond their powers to get the residents to settle the fees. 

“Legal platforms are available for the property managers to take action against those who default payment,” he said at a dialogue session on security issues organised by the Resident Association of Kayangan Puri Mutiara (KPM) Apartments yesterday. 

Announcing that the KPM Apartment complex was virtually crime-free because there were no crime reports in the area over the past one year, he said vandalism was occurring there because of domestic problems. 

“As far as crime is concerned, this is a safe area,” he said, adding that other than an isolated assault case, the area was a peaceful place to live in. 

He called on the residents not to park their vehicles haphazardly, “as this would not only obstruct traffic flow but also cause quarrels and misunderstanding among the residents.” 

He challenged the RA to form a Rukun Tetangga sector to give the 1,500 residents in 320 households there a greater sense of security. 

Greater unity could also be fostered through the RT patrolling activity “as residents here will get to know each other better.” 

He advised RAs of other high-rise dwellings to look into setting up RT sectors to beef up security in their respective housing estates. 

The highest number of criminal offences in the state was recorded in the northeast district, he said. 

Up till October, 4,361 cases were reported in the district, 3,154 involving properties and 407 involving bodily injuries. 

He reminded property managers to only hire guards who were registered with legitimate security companies or agencies.