21/01/2009 The Star Story and photo by STUART MICHAEL

ABOUT 5,000 residents living in apartments in Taman Seri Murni Selayang, Kuala Lumpur, have voiced out their concern over the maintenance company’s bad management.

Residents of Phase One, Phase Two and Phase Three are unhappy over faulty lifts, lack of security personnel, vandalism, stolen cars and the rising number of foreigners living in their midst.

Recently, the residents gathered outside these apartments at Phase One to air their problems.

Phase One and Phase Three is managed by Izrin and Tan Properties Sdn Bhd while Phase Two is managed by Hokawai and Associates. Representatives of both were not present at the gathering despite being notified.

Taman Sri Murni Selayang residents safety action committee secretary Isaiah Jacob, who is disabled, said that he was forced to use the stairs to get to his12th floor unit at Block Five of Phase One.

Of no use: Jacob at the guardhouse that is not manned.

“I have only one leg and has to do this daily because the lift on this block has not been working for more than a month.

“There are disabled people here and imagine what would happen in an emergency.

“Besides this, there are no security guards here and the crime rate is very high,’’ said Jacob.

A resident, Alfred Sebastian, 43, said he was disappointed with the management for not repairing the lifts.

“Also, about 80% of residents here are foreigners. Owners should not let out their units to them as many people do not feel safe staying here anymore.”

Lechumanan Ramasamy, 38, who has been staying at Block 3 for nine years, said parts of his motorcycle were always getting stolen, adding that petrol was also stolen from the motorcycle at times.

“Some irresponsible residents also steal water when their water supply is disconnected and I was shocked when my water bill went up to RM50.

“All these complaints have been brought up to the management committee but nothing has been done,” said Lechumanan.

Batu MP Tian Chua said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) should take over the maintenance of all apartments and high-rise buildings.

“I also met with the maintenance people here and they claimed that the residents are not paying maintenance fees and hence the difficulty in repairing the lifts,’’ he said.

Condominium, Apartments and Highrise Committee president Tengku Nazaruddin Tengku Zainudin said the committee should complain to City Hall if the developer refuses to have a Joint Management Body.

“These apartments have been here for the past 15 years,” he said.