12/09/2009

CONDOMINIUMS: Stand firm on rights of owners

NST
2009/12/09

IT all started one day in 2001 in Taman Midah, Cheras. All Prisma Perdana apartment-dwellers, young and old, sick and healthy had to queue up at the management company office at 4am to get their second car park stickers on a first-come, first-served basis.

The manager of the management company, who was related to the company director, managed the place with an iron fist. We were treated rudely, our ideas and opinions ignored, overtime claims were high and utility bills went unpaid.Enough was enough. A group of residents revolted. A pregnant woman arranged a residents' meetings, a cancer-stricken resident and a former army camp manager gave their all, an insurance agent put his writing skills to good use, a meticulous secretary kept all files in order, and many others who felt we had to do something to get back what was ours also helped.

Apart from problems with the management company, our strata titles were in limbo. The developer had wound up, leaving all matters pertaining to the developer under the care of the official receiver (OR).Usually, matters related to a government agency take a long time to get processed. In our case, while the residents' association was trying to get the OR's approval to manage our apartment blocks, another party was trying to wrest control from us.

Some of the more vocal residents had their cars scratched, tyres slashed and wipers damaged as a scare tactic to make us toe the line.

In 2004, after many visits to the OR's office, we managed to wrest legal control of the management of our apartments.The manager and her cronies refused to hand over the office and closed the office on the handover day. We lodged a police report, bought a bigger lock and locked up the office. It was a stalemate that day... but we never saw the iron lady's face ever again.

The first day of the management takeover, we realised we were staring at a deep financial hole. The electricity bill of almost RM100,000 was unpaid. Water bills were another RM50,000. Other overheads were all unpaid and we discovered that bonuses were paid in advance to all staff members. We had no funds and were saddled with a RM200,000 debt.We received final-notice letters from the utility companies threatening to cut our water and electricity. We had to beg Tenaga Nasional and the water utility company to allow us to settle our outstanding dues by installments.

That was in 2004. Today, I am proud to say that Prisma Perdana Apartment Residents' Association has come through, thanks to prudent and transparent management, cooperation among residents, and help from legal experts and good Samaritans, who helped form our management company as required under the Strata Title Act.More than a third of the residents have obtained their strata titles. Through rigorous management of our finances, the committee moved from a RM200,000 deficit a surplus of RM800,000.

It is a success story not often heard of in this country. Not many apartment owners are able to form their own management corporation. Many face hurdles like ours and give up after much struggle.

I am a past committee member of the Prisma Perdana Apartment Residents' Association and I would like to record my thanks to the many people who helped the committee, including Chang Kim Loong of the National Housebuyers Association (NHA).

I would also advise residents of other condominiums and apartments facing a similar situation like ours to seek legal aid from the NHA so that they can exercise their rights as owners of a strata-title property.

11/21/2009

H1N1 ok but dying from H1N1 not ok

I really shake my head in disbelieve to hear that ‘hotspots’ for H1N1 might be announced. This is a typical third world thinking mentality. I wonder why in other developed nations, qualified medical doctors are the ones giving announcement and details about H1N1 but in our countries, politicians are the ones making the announcement. Sometimes I wonder if they even know what they are dealing with.

I have a son who is only 5 and he is a chronic bronchitis sufferer. We live in Kota Kemuning and we experience hazy conditions EVERYDAY. My son’s like is at stake! And so are many other asthmatic patients, chronic bronchitis patients, young children with low immune system etc.

Each day I will search all papers hoping to get some leads as to how I can build as many defence mechanisms as I can for my son…. And all I get is the feeling like I am searching for answers in a dark room, totally helpless and in despair.

Then, one good Samaritan gave me a very important lead which might perhaps save my son’s live and I am sharing this with as many people as I can.

Not all who gets H1N1 gets pneumonia BUT all who died of H1N1 gets pneumonia.

So, we should focus on how we can prevent pneumonia if we get H1N1….. not how to prevent H1N1.

For those high risk group, getting pneumococcal vaccination is one of the defense mechanism we could use against dying from H1N1. You might still get H1N1 but at least you have a 30% lower risk of dying from H1N1.

Studies have shown here (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-sci-pneumonia4-2009aug04,0,6872284.story ) that 30% of h1N1 pneumonia related deaths are due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Getting yourself vaccinated means you have eliminated 30% of the possible risk of dying from H1N1 pneumonia.

Of course, that does not mean you will not get H1N1 but at least you will not die of it… that’s what everyone would prefers. It’s really not about afraid of getting H1N1, it’s more about dying from it……..

So if the government is serious in preventing H1N1 deaths, all those in the high risk group should get pneumococcal vaccination. Also, please ensure that all clinics are able to administer this vaccination to adults as well and not only to the children….

Open Burning in Jalan Kebun and Johan Setia

A group of residents living in Kota Kemuning, Bandar Puteri Klang, Putra Heights, Kemuning Utama, Bukit Rimau, Bandar Botanic etc have set up a newsgroup to update those affected by the constant open burning in Johan Setia and Jalan Kebun.

For the last ten years, residents living around JS and JK have been experiencing acrid burning smell and constant respiratory related health issues.Please inform your friends or relatives living in these areas to be a member of the newsgroup to be keep informed of what has been done the past year since the change of state government.

Much progress has been made and and these residents have been working hand in hand with the state representative, YB Elizabeth Wong, to relay frequent updates regarding this matter.

Here's the link to the newsgroup:-http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Open- Burning-in- JOHAN-SETIA/

For those interested, please read the past postings to keep abreast of the latest development. .....http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Open- Burning-in- JOHAN-SETIA/ messages

Also, MPK (Majlis Perbandaran Klang) has dedicated a site to keep all updated about the daily monitorings done by their Fire department.Here's the link:-http://www.mpklang.gov.my/home , go to pembakaran terbuka in the middle of the main page.