Selangor issues directive on maintenance low-cost flats
22/05/2004 NST

ALL squatters moving into low-cost apartments must form a pre-management corporation from the day they move in to ensure that the overall maintenance of the flats is taken care of until they receive the strata titles.

After the strata titles are issued, this corporation (Pre-MC) will be recognised as a full management corporation.

This directive was issued by the Selangor Government to all city and
municipal councils in the State recently.

Housing, Building Management and Squatter Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan, who chaired the State's fifth squatter meeting at the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) on Thursday, said the directive would be gazetted under the Selangor Housing and Property Board Enactment (2001) soon.

"Since last month, the board has been conducting roadshows and has already introduced the Pre-MCs to 65 areas. It is targeting more than 2,000 other high-rise buildings in Selangor for the implementation of the Pre-MC.

"This will help house buyers and developers to work as a team and solve the problem of occupants not paying maintenance charges. At the same time, it ensures that public properties are not vandalised," said Mokhtar.

The three-hour meeting was attended by developers, council heads ofdepartment and representatives from PUAS, Telekom and Tenaga Nasional Berhad.

He said house buyers and developers should work together instead of blaming each other over the poor maintenance of high-rise buildings.

Selangor Housing and Property Board deputy CEO Alina Ahmad said previously, management corporations were usually formed when house owners received their strata titles, which could take 10 to 15 years.

"By the time the buyers received the titles, the condition of the buildings would have deteriorated as a result of tenants not paying maintenance and sinking fees, and developers not having enough funds to provide the necessary maintenance.

"When proper maintenance is not provided, the buyers blame the developer and likewise, the developer blame the buyers for not paying," she said.

Alina said from July, the board would conduct two-day seminars for Pre-MC committee members at the various housing projects to guide them on what to do during the Pre-MC period.

MPSJ president Datuk Abdul Hakim Borhan said he would urge new developers to build additional office space for the Pre-MCs to operate
from.