Management problems the root of Crescent Court residents’ woes
The Star 31/7/2004 By K.W. MAK

RESIDENTS of 23-floor Crescent Court in Brickfields, who have been living without proper functioning lifts for the past two weeks, may soon get their lifts fixed.

Five of the six lifts in the 120-unit apartment building are out of commission while the government has condemned the sixth as unsafe.

However, residents have removed the safety warning signs and reactivated the lift, which wobbles, has no lights and exhaust fan.

“The problem started when the previous management headed by John D. Silva was challenged by some residents on his appointment as manager by the land office,” said Crescent Court managing agent D. Visvalingam.

“Instead of ignoring the issue, D. Silva brought the complaining residents to court. As of June 18 this year, his appointment was declared null and void by the court.

“When that happened, no one took care of the place,” said Visvalingam, adding that residents had on numerous occasions tried to form a committee to take charge of the apartments but D. Silva had time and again prevented the residents from doing so by pointing out minor technical errors to the land office.

“We don’t know why he wants to go through so much trouble to prevent us from forming a committee to handle the welfare of the apartments’ residents,” said Visvalingam.

“At the moment, we can’t fix the lift problem because the lift servicing company is owed RM70,000 by the previous management and they won’t help the residents until we can pay. We can’t pay them until the management committee has been formed by the residents.

“I have only recently been given the mandate by the land office as a managing agent until the management committee is formed.”

Resident L. Shana Soosai, who just had a heart bypass operation recently, said it was difficult for her to walk up to her 11th floor apartment.

“I have to stop and rest after walking up every two floors. There are old folks and children living here and the lifts should be the main priority,” said Shana.

“If anyone falls sick or there is an emergency, we won’t be able to come down fast enough to rush the patient to hospital.”