Meetings draw a blank
09/12/2006 The Star By VIVIENNE PAL

NUMEROUS meetings with the local authorities, the Housing and Local Government ministry, developer and bank have still come to naught for the 200-odd squatter families in Kg Sg Kayu Ara.

The families were given keys to the recently completed Sri Ara low-cost apartments by developer Antara Vista in October, yet a substantial number have refused to move into their new premises.

But, time is running out as they have been served a notice from the bank to pay up what they owe or have their units auctioned.

The plight of the people – the final pocket of squatter families in Petaling Jaya, according to mayor Mohamad Roslan Sakiman – has been an ongoing one, and is a result of their dissatisfaction towards the developer over various issues.

For instance, the payment of compensation – till press time, some house buyers had yet to receive full compensation of RM5, 500 (including moving allowance).

“We will be disbursing the compensation owed by next Thursday,” promised Antara Vista legal adviser HC Tan during a meeting between the residents and representatives from Antara Vista, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), and AmBank (M) Bhd at MBPJ Dewan Sivik on Thursday .

Also present were Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Yong Dai Ying and councillor Krishnan Narayana Redy.

“But, they must first vacate their current premises and move into their new units.” he added.

House buyers have insisted on moving into their new units only upon receipt of compensation, but Antara Vista is sticking to their grounds to prevent redundancy.

“Some of them have received compensation, but refuse to move. That's why we resorted to asking them to move first before disbursing compensation,” said Antara Vista director Md Johari Shahrani.

StarMetro's attempt to find out the details of the compensation was unsuccessful as phone calls to Tan and Johari went unanswered.

They also claim that interest for late payments should be disbursed together with the compensation.

“They (the developer) were late in delivering the apartments to us and we are just asking for what is rightfully ours according to what is stipulated in the Sales and Purchase agreement (S&P),” said Kg Sungai Kayu Ara residents association chairman Abidin Pandak.

Under the S&P, the apartments were to be delivered to house buyers by mid-2004, but the unit were only available two months ago.

Johari said that while compensation could be disbursed, he could not confirm interest for late payment and suggested that the house buyers approach the housing tribunal to act on their behalf, while claiming that they “could not run away from paying the buyers charges anyway.”

In an previous meeting, K. Ganesh said Antara Vista had cited financial difficulties as a reason for their inability to pay off compensation, and that the developer had offered to reimburse house buyers by offering floor tiles, and offsetting maintenance and utilities bills up to RM855.

“We don't need the tiles; we want the money because we can use it,” said Ganesh.

Residents were also upset that provisions from their subscription to the Tabung Perumahan Ehsan (TEP) loan scheme were not honoured.

The TPE allows for squatters to pay RM1 upfront and the remaining payment to be honoured after they have moved into their new premises.

“This was the Mentri Besar's promise to us, but now the bank wants us to settle our late interest payments and have sent us a notice of auction.

“How can this be if the late delivery of the apartment is the developer's fault?” demanded Abidin.

Johari blamed the company's initial contractor for the late delivery, and claimed that the company had already taken legal action against the contractor to claim compensation for the delay.

Meanwhile, an AmBank spokesman urged homebuyers to repay the loans and seek further clarification on their payment to prevent their homes from repossession.

While there seemed to be a general air of dissatisfaction on the issues aired that day, Antara Vista has finally assured residents that apartment units will correspond with the S&P agreement.

Residents had earlier raised the alarm over the discrepancy between the unit and block numbers of the apartment and that stated in the S&P agreement.

“We have obtained approval from the mayor to rename the block and unit so that it corresponds with the S&P,” said Johari.

Speaking on behalf of the house buyers, Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Yong Dai Ying said she hoped the matter would be resolved quickly and fairly.

“We want to give decent housing to the squatters; we want to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor,” she said.

Still, the entire matter has yet to be resolved, and residents are looking forward to another meeting set up by MBPJ in a week's time.

“We are still not satisfied. I will see the mayor today and, depending on the outcome, we might lodge a police report and also report to the Anti Corruption Agency,” said Abidin.