Palm Spring panel formed

10/06/2008 The Star By Tan Karr Wei

RESIDENTS of Palm Spring@Damansara in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, have set up a joint management body (JMB) and want the developer to hand over the management of the property to them.

According to Palm Spring joint management committee (JMC) sub-committee member Richard Siew, 50, the commissioner of buildings (COB) had issued a certificate endorsing the setting up of the Palm Spring JMB.

The certificate was issued by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), signed by PJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman as the commissioner of building.

“The certificate is dated April 5 because that is when the JMB was formed. The management should have stopped collecting maintenance fees from the residents from then on but it has not stopped doing so,” Siew said.

The residents are unhappy that the developer has not acknowledged the formation of the JMB under the Building and Common Property Act 2007.

JMB secretary Richard Wong, 44, said they were not satisfied with the way the maintenance fees and sinking fund were handled.

“We requested to see the accounts, but till now, they have only given us the accounts for 2005,” he said.

Takeover: Anwar, holding the certificate issued by the commissioner of buildings, requesting to see Ho. However, Ho was not available.

Wong said they hoped the developer would join the JMC so that they could manage the funds together.

Last Wednesday, the committee had arranged to meet building manager Samuel Ho but he was not in the office at the agreed time.

The committee then asked three PSD Management Services employees to leave so that it could lock the grille leading up the office.

“We're not terminating the services of PSD. We're just locking the office up for five minutes, which is symbolic of our takeover of the property management,” said Palm Spring JMB chairman Anwar Monawar, 49.

When contacted, Ho said the PSD was merely an agency to carry out the management and maintenance of the property.

“We're a neutral party and residents should settle their dispute with the developers,” Ho said.

According to Section 11 of Building and Common Property Act 2007, the joint management committee must include the developer and between five and 12 property owners, chosen during an annual general meeting

Roslan said the matter is being looked into.

Developer Muafakat Kekal Sdn Bhd declined to comment for the time being.

Regarding the accounts, Ho said any resident must submit a written request to examine it.

“The accounts are privy only to residents of the building, and not just anyone,” he said.