Ministry's view of strata title tussle is flawed

The Sun 17/06/2003 By Maintenance Fees, Kuala Lumpur

The Deputy Land and Cooperative Development Minister warned that action would be taken against people who refuse to pay maintenance fees under the Strata Titles Act in "Fee dodgers have a year to pay up" (the Sun, June 13).

 This gives the impression that owners and residents of apartments and condominiums are culprits. But there are two sides to a coin.

What the deputy minister "overlooked" is the unsatisfactory services provided by developers and/or their agents. What solution has the ministry in mind to address this nagging problem?

Is the deputy minister aware of the fact that developers refuse to make available the management accounts of the apartments for owners to view? The usual excuse is that the books are "confidential". What right does the developer have to charge management fees when the job of running the apartments is delegated to the maintenance company?

I cannot see any valid reason other than taking the owners for a ride and treating the residents as a ready cash cow to milk indefinitely.

I am given to understand that the Housing Ministry does not have the "authority" to stop developers from raising the rates.

No wonder developers can act as though they are above the law!

The deputy minister toyed with the possibility of prosecuting owners for not paying the maintenance fees.

How about considering prosecuting errant developers for not applying for the strata titles  within a month of obtaining the certificate of occupation?