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A wait that is just too long
04/03/2008 The Star
IT is sad that while the Government is making efforts to improve services
such as obtaining international passports in one day, having a one stop
centre for registration of businesses and many others, there are some who
are stuck in their comfort zones, for reasons best known only to them.
One such area I wish to highlight is the issuing of strata titles for
condominiums, apartments and office units. Many letters have been written in
the past and the party’s deafening silence makes one wonder if they can be
likened to the ''little napoleons'' recently highlighted in some
departments. Waiting over 10 years (some 20 years) for strata titles is
ridiculous.
Recently, two couples, one from Singapore and the other from the US, visited
me and the stayed with me in my condo in PJ, which is supposedly an up
market one.
One evening, our discussion somehow revolved around the maintenance and
amenities provided in these buildings and issuance of titles.
Both were horrified to hear that the condo which I own is almost 10 years
old and the strata title is still pending. It kind of jolted my memory,
because I remember being informed by the developer’s maintenance company
some time ago that it is was just matter of time before all the owners are
issued with strata titles, but this appears to be dragging.
I don’t know whether there is collusion between parties concerned to
deliberately delay this. My suspicion here is brought about because the same
developer has put up two more blocks and appears to be charging much lesser
(less then half of what the old block owners pay) as maintenance fee.
As a matter of fact they used this low rate, as their sales pitch, when
launching the new blocks for sale. It makes me wonder if the previous owners
are not subsidising the owners of the new blocks in maintaining the common
areas? The irony is that the old block is in dire need of painting and yet
the owners are asked to cough out the monthly payments.
It has been reported many a time how some unscrupulous developers use
bullying tactics to extract payments from owners, but to see that the
Government not paying any heed is a sad state of affairs. In some cases it
is obvious the developers find maintaining the premises lucrative, yet the
services leave much to be desired.
If the government can effectively play their role in issuing the titles with
minimum of delay, the owners can play their part in maintaining the
buildings on their own.
Condo Owner
Petaling Jaya |
