24/12/2008 NST

KUALA LUMPUR, WED:

The Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia today rejected a claim for compensation of RM20,000 by 31 flat dwellers of Taman Sentul Utama who alleged that the developer had failed to provide satisfactory maintenance services.

Rungit Singh, in his decision, said that residents had not paid all the maintenance fees required.

“After examining the statements and documents from both sides, I find that the problem had been going on for seven years.

“The court finds that the developer had been professional in this matter such as providing a claims statement, police report and notice to the residents.

Their actions are justified and orderly and that is why I reject the residents’ claims,” he said.

On Nov 17, 31 flat residents filed a claim to the tribunal naming the developer, Sentul Murni Management Sdn Bhd, as the defendant.

In the claim, the residents asked for half of the maintenance fees paid from November 2005 to June 2008 to be returned to them.

They also wanted exemplary compensation worth RM20,000 from the developer for failure to provide satisfactory maintenance services.

The Taman Sentul Utama flat issue received media coverage after the residents complained that the developer did not provide maintenance, and had not repaired a lift, causing the body of a resident to have to be carried down the stairs from the high-rise building.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah got involved in the matter by issuing a statement that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, under the Federal Territories Ministry, had to repair the lifts after receiving complaints that they had been out of serviced the past six months.

When met outside the court, Block 211 Action Committee secretary Azmi Abd Aziz, who represented the flat residents, expressed his disappointment with the decision.

The committee members would discuss whether or not to file for a judicial review of the decision, he said.