Owner held to ransom

The Star 20/4/2004

Justice Dr R.K. Nathan said in the High Court that disconnecting water was a “draconian action” and should not be resorted to by the authority concerned (The Star, Dec 30, 2003).

I bought an apartment from a developer in Port Dickson several years ago. Recently, the management of the apartment passed to a new committee. The new management, controlled by its chairman, started to flaunt its power and “abuse” it.

When I bought the apartment, the unit came with electricity and water supply, including a meter installed to my unit.

In the Sales and Purchase agreement, I need only pay the maintenance fee and nothing for repairs or beautification of the resort.

However, the new management claimed an additional RM6,000 from each apartment owner for repairs on the resort. To force contribution, the committee chairman cut off the water supply to my unit.

I am not earning income from the apartment. I offered my apartment to the committee to rent out to help pay for the “forced contribution.” The chairman refused.

I have to make several post-dated cheques (equivalent to the amount demanded) before the chairman authorised the return of my water meter.

During the past several months, I had not visited the apartment. But when I returned recently to use the apartment, I was surprised that my water meter had been taken away and the water supply cut.

Apparently, the management has made a new ruling that outstanding bills exceeding RM1,000 will result in water disconnection. They said my bill was RM1,097.

According to my calculation, I did not have an outstanding bill exceeding RM1,000. The management has included in the outstanding bill the following items:

three months advance payment for maintenance.

TNB and Waterworks Department deposits (I had already made payments when I bought the unit from the developer).

Insurance (the sum far exceeded the amount I paid when I bought my own insurance under the previous management).
After I have paid the three months maintenance as due, the chairman again refused to authorise the reconnection of my water supply, unless I pay an additional RM50 for return of my meter and reconnection of water to my apartment.

Taking away my water meter is theft. To demand payment for stolen goods is extortion. And using water supply as weapon of threat is a “terrorist act.”

The Government should not sanction such acts.


PD Apartment Owner,

Seremban.