Residents want ministry’s help

The Star 9/11/2006 By CHOW HOW BAN

THE Villaria Condo Residents Association has urged the Housing and Local Government Ministry to help the residents resolve foreseeable woes with the new management company.

Due to a court order, the residents association is now facing the problem that it has to deal with another management company to be appointed by the liquidator of Jerah Bina Sdn Bhd.

The liquidator was given permission by the High Court to appoint a management company to manage the condominium in Bukit Antarabangsa, Ampang, pending the issuance of strata titles and the formation of the management corporation under the Strata Titles Act 1985.

The residents association claimed that it has had enough bad experiences with previous companies that they claim did a poor job of maintaining the residents' properties.

Association chairman Datuk Nordin Yusof said the association was submitting the application for strata titles on behalf of the 144 residents to the Gombak Land Office so that they could soon manage their properties themselves.

He said the association hoped the ministry would look into their grouses and assist in applying for the strata titles.

“The land office and local councils are under the ministry. Hopefully, they can help push the application through and expedite the process,” he said after a meeting with some residents on Oct 30.

He said the residents' association could do a better job than the previous management companies citing its success in obtaining the certificate of fitness and settling the water, security and electricity bills as examples.

He said they would be collecting a total of RM140,000 from the 144 units for the fees for the strata titles, adding that each individual pays between RM1,000 and RM1,100 depending on the size of the unit.

When contacted, Rimbun Corporate Advisory Sdn Bhd (the liquator of Jerah Bina) managing principal Kumar Nathan said any property would have to be managed by a licensed property management company and the Villaria Condo Residents Association was just an association that was not licensed to manage properties.

“We have requested them (the residents association) to appoint their own property management company to manage the property. But for some reason, they are not able to do so.

“Now, we have a court order stating that we can appoint a company to manage the condominium for a short term.

“I don't think it is an issue. If you go to the Villa Duta Condo, it is not falling apart. I don't know why they are concerned. Their concern is unfounded. As long as they pay their maintenance, the property will maintained properly,” he said.

He said the residents association could take over the management after they obtained their strata titles and formed a management corporation.

He said the liquidator would put up a tender within three months to appoint a property management company to take over Villaria Condo and, at the same time, the liquidator would be deal directly with the services and maintenance of the property.

“Only time will tell,” he added, referring to the residents' fear that the new management company would not do a good job.

Meanwhile, Nordin said the residents association would speak to relevant parties to see whether it could appoint its own liquidator and management company to safeguard the residents' interest and look into ways to appeal the court's decision.

The condominium was developed by MBF in the 1990s and the residents began to occupy units in 1994.