Families cry foul as developer cuts services

The Star  14/12/2000 By Devid Rajah

Malacca: More then 150 families of Taman Malinja apartments in Bukit Baru have been putting up with a foul smell since Dec 1, after the developer stopped cleaning services in the 245-unit apartment.

The residents, who were said to be owing over RM100,000 in maintenance fee, will also face water and electricity disruption come Jan 1.

 Flat dweller Teddy Lopez, 65, said the move was unfair to other residents who had been paying regularly. He also said it was wrong for the developer to hold back their strata titles.

"I paid cash for the apartment and have been a good paymaster," said Lopez, a retired army officer. Another resident identified only as Lee, 34, said the problem started when the housing developer, Taman Malinja Sdn Bhd, requested residents to pay the RM30 monthly maintenance fee, 18 months in advance.

"The majority of the residents could not raise the amount," she said.

She said the developer also wanted the residents to pay the lawyer's fee for strata titles.

Lee hoped the state government would step in and resolve the problem before the water and electricity supply is cut.

Taman Malinja general manager Seet Cheng Khim said the company was losing several thousand ringgit this month alone because about 60% of the flat owners had not paid maintenance fee for last two years.