Sinkhole - ??

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/7/31/central/1686709&sec=central
A SINKHOLE about 2m wide along the banks of Sungai Kayu Ara has caused fears among residents of the Puncak Damansara Condominiums in Kg Kayu Ara, Petaling Jaya.
Joint management body (JMB) secretary Mohd Rafi Ganesan said they discovered the seriousness of the problem when the joint management committee (JMC) took over the management from the developers.
Puncak Damansara Owners and Residents Association (PUNDORA) Leonard Nathan said they even cordoned off a stretch of covered parking by the river banks for fear of a landslide.
Worrisome: Puncak Damansara Condominiums senior security manager Capt (rtd) Kumaravel Veerappan inspecting the sinkhole by the condo walls.
Representatives from the Petaling district Drainage and Irrigation Department (JPS) and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) visited the site with residents and Condominimum, Apartments and Highrise Committee (CAHC) chairman Tengku Nazaruddin Zainudin.
An MBPJ engineer said the earth along the whole stretch had settled further after the condominium was built and the drainage pipes were not done properly, causing erosion along the banks.
A JPS engineer said residents would first have to rectify the whole drainage system within the condominium that was along the river bank.
Mohd Rafi said they had appointed a contractor and work would start by this week.
After submitting a report, JPS would conduct earth strengthening work along the bank once enough funds were available, a process that would take about six months.

something from the mail....

Any comments for these issues?

Presently there are a number of issues regarding our JMB which must also becommon to most other new JMBs.

Top of which is on how to ensure an efficient and integral management ofJMB.such as:

- JMB constitution - do we need one?

- standard operating procedures particularly those relating to limit of
financial authority to enter contracts, approve and disburse funds, etc- office bearers and their respective roles and responsibilities.

- relationship and requirements expected for property manager and otherservice providers,- contacts with other JMBs

Have you got a similar problem?

I had a bad experience, i.e. somebody not unit owner being voted into the JMC and his name submitted to the COB by the developer. This in itself could be grounds to declare the first AGM faulty and the whole elections suspect, since the developer had failed miserably to determine the voting rights of attendees (I honestly could not tally the count and I, chairman of the AGM and elected to the JMC is supposed to be absent according to the attendance listing!).

I am sure most of us do not know the secret background of our fellow committee members if they have any. For this reason, I have drafted a "Declaration of Eligibility to Hold Office" which I want all my JMC members to sign. It is attached herewith. Please be frank and direct with your comments and opinions if any. I might raise this matter at the forum if time permits.

When The Law Is Enforced

Prima Bayu Appt in Klang had problems with their developer. So what's new! The developer refuses to call for the meeting to form the JMB despite advices from the COB. They kept claiming that the MC had already been formed, therefore no need JMB; but the fact remains that not enough owners have signed the register at Land Office and a MC meeting had never been called.

The Klang COB, took the initiative to appoint an Agent to call for the first meeting of the JMB. The Agent worked together with the Residents' Association to organise the meeting.

On the 6th of July, the JMB of Prima Bayu was officially formed despite having no cooperation from the developer.

Well done to Majlis Perbandaran Klang for their pro-active action and to the residents of Prima Bayu.

We wish you well!

Anyone can help out?

The following questions were asked by a member from PJ.....

1. What law (state or federal) specifically prohibits cutting water supply to apt residents? - pls cite

2. How is Syabas empowered to cut water supply for non payment of water dues? Have they got special powers? - pls cite

3. Is it illegal to specify the cutting of water supply to an apt (in the House Rules) even if it is not practised?

4. Is reducing water pressure to an apt an illegal act? Are there laws that can be cited?

5. Are there laws on the right of entry and exit to an apt via common areas (for fee defaulters)? - pls cite

6. Can defaulters (item 6) be denied lift service and be made to use the stairway?

On pets in condos

7. Are there state / federal laws that prohibit keeping of pets in high rise? - pls cite

8. If no to above (item 6), are there laws that prohibit keeping more than one pet?

9. Are there laws regarding breeding animals in condos? Can 2 or more pets be construed as breeding?

On developer

10. Can a developer claim unsold apts and car parks in a developement project, and ownership to such?

11. If yes (item 9) would the developer have to pay the Maintenance fees?

12. What about unsold car parks - these do not attract any maintenance charges at Maxwell. Do such units default as common area, and if so after what period after the building CF is issued?

You are not alone!

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/Streets/Saturday/Stories/2279152/Article/index_html

Complaints aplenty from Menara City One residents

Nuradzimmah Daim

KUALA LUMPUR: Many would give an arm and a leg to live in the heart of the city, but the residents of Menara City One Condominium feel they don't have much to boast about.

They have numerous complaints about the management of the building in Jalan Munshi Abdullah, near Jalan Masjid India, which also houses 49 shoplots on the ground floor.

Lack of maintenance, poor lighting in the carpark, cracks in the building, noise, air pollution and open burning near the entrance to the car park are just part of the long list.

Another problem, says senior bank manager Pang Teng Lee, is that he and other owners are still waiting for their strata titles.

He said the 10-year-old building was initially maintained by developer City One Sdn Bhd, but was handed over to City Hall in 2003.

"City Hall has done nothing about our titles.

"And we have been paying our monthly maintenance fees but we have no access to the accounts.

"We hope the joint management committee formed in April will help and be more transparent about what is happening."

He said nothing was accomplished at the first meeting between City Hall and the committee because the audited accounts were not given to the residents.

Irene Tan said she was concerned about the safety of the residents as any vehicle can access the car park.

"And because of the condition of the building and the fact that we don't have strata titles, the market price of our units has actually dropped from the original RM200 per square foot."

The exasperated residents have asked Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun to help.

He visited the building and arranged a meeting with the joint management committee.

Committee chairman M. Ramanathan said the maintenance and running of the 502-unit building was being done properly.

"We are doing our best. But the residents are close to RM6 million in arrears on their maintenance.

"If the residents don't pay, how can we maintain the building?

"We check all contracts with service providers and welcome suggestions and feedback on service providers from residents. We have nothing to hide as we are also residents here.

"We have applied for the strata titles, but there is a caveat that needs to be removed before we can proceed," he said.

RA representation in MBPJ

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/6/26/central/21649859&sec=central

Thursday June 26, 2008

PJ folks rue ‘incomplete’ list

FRUSTRATED and furious – this aptly described what Petaling Jaya residents felt about the list of councillors for their city.

“The Pakatan Rakyat promised that there would be residents represented in the councils but looks like it's not to be. We were hoping that at least one councillor would be a Residents Association (RA) representative but they are merely following the earlier government by having political appointees,” said All Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Residents' Association Coalition (APAC) committee member Mohamad Umar Peer Mohamad.

Mohamad Umar: ‘Residents’ needs would be brushed aside.’

APAC secretary Liew Wei Beng was unhappy because despite all the hard work they had put in fighting for the residents' cause, they were once again sidelined.

Condominimum, Apartments and Highrise Committee (CAHC) chairman Tengku Nazaruddin Zainudin said he received many calls from residents, questioning why there was no RA or Rukun Tetangga (RT) representation in the council.

“We question the political appointees because none of them have been actively involved with the council or with residents.

“Have they even attended a full board meeting before? Have they ever gone to the ground to see what residents are facing?” commented Nazaruddin, who has been staying in PJ for about 40 years.

Tengku Nazaruddin: Received many calls from residents who voiced their dissatisfaction.

“It's ironic because the council runs on the assessment paid by residents but in the end, the political parties decide who should represent us,” said Liew, also a PJ resident for about 40 years.

“We want people who can solve issues. We will continue to be the watchdogs and make sure PJ residents are taken care of,” said Nazaruddin.

“The NGO appointees would be more interested in policy-making issues, not our drainage or traffic problems,” said Liew, who is also Taman Mayang Jaya residents association chairman.

Umar said that like before, residents' needs would be brushed aside.

“There won't be much change and we would continue to see developments taking place around PJ. Before this, we have been termed as opposition when we fought for our rights and sadly, we're still going to be an opposition,” said Umar.

As the list is yet to be finalised, he hoped that the state government would reconsider their list.

Liew: Very disappointed with the list of councillors.

Should the councillor list remain as it is, Umar said they would carefully monitor the councillors throughout the first year.

SS4C and SS4D Residents Association (RA) chairman Ravinder Singh said politicians should be concentrating on politics and interests of the nation on a larger scale.

“Why are they meddling around in our local councils? Politicians are just here for a temporary period while we're staying here. We need a long-term representation in the council be involved with the developments that take place in our neighbourhoods,” said Ravinder.

Commenting on the disagreement between Pakatan Rakyat parties and even within the parties itself regarding the councillor lists, Ravinder said: “After 100 days in office, they are still complaining about their needs. What about our needs?”

SS20 RT chairman Eileen Thong said it was a wise decision not to have RA and RT representatives in the council.

She said that residents still had a voice through monthly MBPJ meetings between MBPJ heads of departments, councillors and resident representatives that were chaired by an assemblyman.

“It would have been hard to pick RA or RT heads to sit in the council because there are so many in PJ itself. How are you going to pick one to represent all residents? There would be a sudden surge of people who would want to get into the post with personal agendas. This would have been an unhealthy situation,” she said.

Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne said he did receive complaints that there were no RA representatives in the council.

“They should have some sort of representation because they make up the majority of people in Petaling Jaya,” he said.