Feb 17, 2010
Seeing red over empty promises
davidtan@thestar.com.my
DISGRUNTLED residents of Marina Bay in Tanjung Tokong are unhappy with the Penang Government for failing to keep its promises to resolve matters involving the condominium’s management corporation (MC).
Their spokesman Datuk Charles Fong said it had been about 12 years since the condominium was built but there had never been a Joint Management Body (JMB), and all matters were handled by the developer.
Fong said in 2008, the residents held elections for the JMB, and he was elected chairman.
But the setting up of the body was rejected by the Commissioner of Buildings (COB).
“We made several appeals to the state government but they were also rejected,” said Fong.
“Last year, a group of residents met state Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai who advised us to form an MC.
“We taught the idea was fine, but until today nothing has been done. It is just empty promises from the state government,” he said.
“There was nothing in black and white from the state government to support the formation of the MC.
“We need to form a committee to check, among others, accounts. Currently, we are in the dark as to what is happening to the money collected as maintenance charges,” he told a press conference organised by Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng on Friday.
Fong said there were over 400 units located at Marina Bay.
“I hope our grouses will be heard by the state government, especially by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
“It is almost two years since we forwarded our problems but we are still in a limbo,” he added.
Another resident Maggie Toh, who was supposed to be JMB secretary said the state government must allow them to form the MC, and not have double standards by allowing the developer to manage the condominium.
“Please act without fear and favour. Give us our rights,” she added.
Wong, when contacted, said he had asked the developer to assist the residents on the formation of the MC.
“I will follow up with the developer on the latest development, as it involves the landowner as well.
“In this case, consent is also needed from the landowner before the MC can be set up,” he added.
In October last year, it was reported that a request from the residents to form the JMB was rejected by COB in June after which, the residents appealed against the decision to the state.
Wong was quoted as saying that the condominium is located on a plot of land leased from the Kwantung and Tengchow Association for 99 years and the COB made its decision based on an interpretation of the Building and Common Property (Maintenance and Management) Act 2007.
He said the law was relatively new and stipulated that parties could appeal to state authorities if they were unhappy with the COB’s decision.
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