THE residents of Sri Intan II condominium off Jalan Ipoh are in the dark over an unsettled electricity bill that reads a shocking RM27,741.

Their nightmare continues with a warning letter from Tenaga Nasional to settle the bill within a week or face an immediate supply cut.

"But we have paid all our bills! How can anyone cut electricity supply if we have paid all our bills," said an unhappy resident who wished to be known as Gan.

The condominium's management corporation president, Siti Fatimah Abdul Hamid, said they took over the management corporation end of June this year and were equally surprised to receive such a bill.

"But we are unable to identify the residents who have not settled their bills, mainly because the previous building manager has taken all the records," she said during a Press conference held at the condominium's function room.

The residents voiced out their grievances to Batu MP Ng Lip Yong, who was invited to find a solution to their problems.

Siti Fatimah said the previous building manager was Crystal Property Management Sdn Bhd who managed the building for five years.

The taking over of a management corporation is provided for under the Strata Title Act 1985 which requires the building developer to hand over management powers to a management corporation who will be responsible for overlooking all matters regarding maintenance and administration work.

"We were shocked to see that the cabinets in the office were empty, the building plan was incomplete, the keys of the building were left scattered and were not labeled properly," she said.

To worsen things, she said Crystal Property had refused to give them the account statements showing the amount of arrears from each unit.

Since the new management corporation took over beginning July, they are left with no records at hand, and are unable to assess the amount of arrears from each unit.

"We have asked them over and again for the records but they have yet to give us," she added.

She said they were caught unaware of the situation as they were not allowed entry into the administrative office till the signing over on June 30.

Ng, after listening to Siti Fatimah, said he would speak to Tenaga Nasional for an extension to allow the corporation to settle the bills.

"I understand it is not the fault of either the corporation or the residents. In fact, Crystal Properties should furnish the records and all the statements," he said.

The only way out to ensure the electricity will not be cut, Siti Fatimah said, would be to pay from their "Sinking Funds" normally used to repaint the building or repair major damages in the building.

"We are planning to use that money first and then ask the developer for compensation," she said.

Every condominium owner is required to pay two types of funds, the maintenance fund to upkeep the condo and the other called Sinking Fund, which is used once every five to 10 years for painting the building or for repairing major wear-and-tear.

All residents of the 322 units had contributed RM350 each into the "Sinking Fund" this month when the new corporation took over.

"But now with this additional expense, we might have to use this money to ensure everyone has electricity and water," she said.

The water bill comes up to RM7,692.

Residents also voiced out their dissatisfaction over dirty lifts and their surroundings.

Siti Fatimah said Crystal Property was invited to attend an open dialogue with the corporation and the residents but was disappointed that no representative turned up.