History is an interesting subject. It helps fortify one's background knowledge of the rise and fall of a country; for instance, the United Kingdom. It used to be so mighty and strong that it almost colonised a quarter of the land masses by the close of the 19th century. By the middle part of 20th century, she lost most of the colonies as fast as they acquired.
History used to be my pet subject because the teacher who taught our class was very inspiring and impactful in her delivery as well as her enthusiasm and eagerness in making the class understand what she was teaching.
History repeats itself. But I am not too sure with the adulterated version of history, one can really rely on the substance of historical records and facts.
Japan attempted to change her history but there was so much of resistance that she became cautious nd hesitant in trying to blot out some of the unpleasant events that took place during the world wars.
I used to learn about Malayan history - how Parameswara founded Malacca, the sultanate, the visit of Admiral Cheng Ho, the flourishing trade with China, Princess Ling Po, the legends of Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat etc,
But today, I am not too sure whether school chilren are learning the same stuff that I went through. I understand that certain parts of the Malayan history had been taken out.
History should never be changed. It must remain for the future generations so so that they can learn the lessons of the past from history.
I just hope that the Malaysian education ministry should be sensible not to embark on history bashing and have them replaced with rubbish that never took place.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
High Income Economy
What a rhetorical hype from our PM who recently announced the Economic Transformation Plan during the UMNO Assembly
I just could not find any relevance how his proposed ETP could attain the gargantuan vision of creating a high income economy when the plans were not specific and non-directive to meet the goal. All that I could find was builidng the 100-storeyed building and the four highways across the country to improve the communication infrastructure. And our former PM 2M had the temerity to endorse his prodigee's dismal programme of great economic disaster.
I expected the PM to come out strong with concrete plans on human development by improving the general standards of our public institutions of higher learning. History around us does show the significant corelation between sound education and the technological success of an economy. Let us look at Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the wakening dragons of the Peoples' Republic of China and the leaping tiger of India.
The ETP projects are not likely to benefit the country's growing populace of young people. Many of the local products of local universities are already being banished into the pool of unemployed and this number is growing by the year. They just do not possess the employable skills like oral communication in the English Language and the necessary required skills as demanded by the private sector. Our local universities are not just churning our the types of manpower with the necessary industrial skills to meet the demands of the private sector.
I just cannot see the pertinence of engaging 300+ English teachers from England to teach our young to be proficient in the language. Many of our local leachers who are retired are just as good if not better than many of these young English teachers. The latter may be good at speaking but I am not too sure if they write as well as they speak. Why waste unnecessary money when we can benefit the retired local English Language specialist teachers. The Education Ministry perhaps does not want to be seen or criticised for engaging the local non-Malay English Language teachers.
Is the Government of the day so blind as not to see this rot? Is she going to continue practicing her discrimatory economic policy to enrich the select cronies in UMNO and ignore the plight of the masses? Does she realise that amongst the people of Malaysia, there are not only poor Malays and Bumiputras but also poor Chinese and Indians who require care and help. Is she not aware of the economic monster that she has created over the past 53 years? We cannot have the majority ethnic group continue to live on clutches and depend on governmental unending finanical and economic aids funded by the tax-payers. This policy is going to destroy the Malays. in the wrong run.
The mega projects in my view are not going to benefit the locals. I would foresee that jobs created from the said projects are more likely to benefit the alien than the local workers. I would anticipate that when fully operational, the 'Big Five' are likely to deploy around 25,000 foreign workers. This means, the huge monthly financial outflow to the countries of origin of the said workers. Basing on RM1000/- per month per head, we are talking about an outflow amounting to RM25 million per month or RM330 million per year nd RM1.65 bn in five years.
With the number of aliens added to the fast growing population, social services are likely to be compromised. Housing and medical services shall be stretched. Besides, crime rate may escalate.
What will happen to these workers when the mega projects are completed? Many of them will be sent home while many may stay back due to marriages to local people.
The last 35 years saw the mushrooming of screw-driver smoke-stacked industries across the country. The transfer of technology is so minimal. I just dread how many of those who are still working in these industries have acquired adequate knowledge, experience and skills to be able to assemble a TV set, a motor-car, a picture tube, a pump or an electric motor or an air-conditioner on his or her own single effort?
To produce a high income economy, we need high tech. jobs and not labour intensive jobs. Until the authority recognises this factor, we are not going to achieve our visional objective. Let us not kid and continue to pull wool over the eyes of the populace. You can deceive some people some of the time, some people most of the time ; but certainly not all the people all the time.
Cut down the unnecessary expenditure on defence and infrastructure development. Divert the funds to improve on human development and raise general standards of technical education in the country's instututes of higher learning. Stop cheating and reduce the rate of corruption. Unless we do this, I see little hope of earning extra ringgits in my pocket.
Please eradicate corruption at all levels of the Government machinery and try to save for the rainy day. Tighten all the loop-holes through which public money may be or is drained perenially. Just cannot figure out how RM23 million was loaned out to students who never apply for it and who may not even exist in this world.
I just could not find any relevance how his proposed ETP could attain the gargantuan vision of creating a high income economy when the plans were not specific and non-directive to meet the goal. All that I could find was builidng the 100-storeyed building and the four highways across the country to improve the communication infrastructure. And our former PM 2M had the temerity to endorse his prodigee's dismal programme of great economic disaster.
I expected the PM to come out strong with concrete plans on human development by improving the general standards of our public institutions of higher learning. History around us does show the significant corelation between sound education and the technological success of an economy. Let us look at Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the wakening dragons of the Peoples' Republic of China and the leaping tiger of India.
The ETP projects are not likely to benefit the country's growing populace of young people. Many of the local products of local universities are already being banished into the pool of unemployed and this number is growing by the year. They just do not possess the employable skills like oral communication in the English Language and the necessary required skills as demanded by the private sector. Our local universities are not just churning our the types of manpower with the necessary industrial skills to meet the demands of the private sector.
I just cannot see the pertinence of engaging 300+ English teachers from England to teach our young to be proficient in the language. Many of our local leachers who are retired are just as good if not better than many of these young English teachers. The latter may be good at speaking but I am not too sure if they write as well as they speak. Why waste unnecessary money when we can benefit the retired local English Language specialist teachers. The Education Ministry perhaps does not want to be seen or criticised for engaging the local non-Malay English Language teachers.
Is the Government of the day so blind as not to see this rot? Is she going to continue practicing her discrimatory economic policy to enrich the select cronies in UMNO and ignore the plight of the masses? Does she realise that amongst the people of Malaysia, there are not only poor Malays and Bumiputras but also poor Chinese and Indians who require care and help. Is she not aware of the economic monster that she has created over the past 53 years? We cannot have the majority ethnic group continue to live on clutches and depend on governmental unending finanical and economic aids funded by the tax-payers. This policy is going to destroy the Malays. in the wrong run.
The mega projects in my view are not going to benefit the locals. I would foresee that jobs created from the said projects are more likely to benefit the alien than the local workers. I would anticipate that when fully operational, the 'Big Five' are likely to deploy around 25,000 foreign workers. This means, the huge monthly financial outflow to the countries of origin of the said workers. Basing on RM1000/- per month per head, we are talking about an outflow amounting to RM25 million per month or RM330 million per year nd RM1.65 bn in five years.
With the number of aliens added to the fast growing population, social services are likely to be compromised. Housing and medical services shall be stretched. Besides, crime rate may escalate.
What will happen to these workers when the mega projects are completed? Many of them will be sent home while many may stay back due to marriages to local people.
The last 35 years saw the mushrooming of screw-driver smoke-stacked industries across the country. The transfer of technology is so minimal. I just dread how many of those who are still working in these industries have acquired adequate knowledge, experience and skills to be able to assemble a TV set, a motor-car, a picture tube, a pump or an electric motor or an air-conditioner on his or her own single effort?
To produce a high income economy, we need high tech. jobs and not labour intensive jobs. Until the authority recognises this factor, we are not going to achieve our visional objective. Let us not kid and continue to pull wool over the eyes of the populace. You can deceive some people some of the time, some people most of the time ; but certainly not all the people all the time.
Cut down the unnecessary expenditure on defence and infrastructure development. Divert the funds to improve on human development and raise general standards of technical education in the country's instututes of higher learning. Stop cheating and reduce the rate of corruption. Unless we do this, I see little hope of earning extra ringgits in my pocket.
Please eradicate corruption at all levels of the Government machinery and try to save for the rainy day. Tighten all the loop-holes through which public money may be or is drained perenially. Just cannot figure out how RM23 million was loaned out to students who never apply for it and who may not even exist in this world.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Resurrection of Altantuya's Homicide
Of late the Altantuya's case resurfaced in London with Balasubramaniam's threat to bear all in the name of justice.
MACC was invited to meet with Bala in London with a view to taking statements from him through his panel oflawyers. But the AG Chamber advised MACC against the proposition as statements taken in another country would not be admissible in the local court of law! As a result, MACC turned town the invitation. What a blatant excuse!
According to Bala, our PM and Abdul Razak befriended Altantuya in connection with the purchase of the two submarines from France. Abdul Razak had been acquitted and is now in the United Kingdom pursuing a course.
That left our PM who must face the eventual indictment for the vaporisation of Altantuya through the use of the lethal C4 explosive. It must be borne in mind at the material time, our PM was the Defence Minister who definitely had the power to direct the issuance of the deadly C4.
Now there was speculation that PM's spouse Rosmah was present at the scene of the homicide. And this allegation had been relegated to the limbo through high level conspiracy involving the AG Chamber, the Police, the Military, the Defence Ministry and the muted press media. No wonder news concerning the overseas resurrection of Altantuya's case received scanty publicity in the local newspapers.
Quo Vadis? Whither Goeth Thou? Only God knows what is going to happen next? The publics are expecting a definite conclusion of the homicide. Those involved must pay the price for the hideous crime commited by high ranking politicians in the country.
Let the spirit of Altantuya be emancipated and let the truth prevail. It is through truth that we be set free.
MACC was invited to meet with Bala in London with a view to taking statements from him through his panel oflawyers. But the AG Chamber advised MACC against the proposition as statements taken in another country would not be admissible in the local court of law! As a result, MACC turned town the invitation. What a blatant excuse!
According to Bala, our PM and Abdul Razak befriended Altantuya in connection with the purchase of the two submarines from France. Abdul Razak had been acquitted and is now in the United Kingdom pursuing a course.
That left our PM who must face the eventual indictment for the vaporisation of Altantuya through the use of the lethal C4 explosive. It must be borne in mind at the material time, our PM was the Defence Minister who definitely had the power to direct the issuance of the deadly C4.
Now there was speculation that PM's spouse Rosmah was present at the scene of the homicide. And this allegation had been relegated to the limbo through high level conspiracy involving the AG Chamber, the Police, the Military, the Defence Ministry and the muted press media. No wonder news concerning the overseas resurrection of Altantuya's case received scanty publicity in the local newspapers.
Quo Vadis? Whither Goeth Thou? Only God knows what is going to happen next? The publics are expecting a definite conclusion of the homicide. Those involved must pay the price for the hideous crime commited by high ranking politicians in the country.
Let the spirit of Altantuya be emancipated and let the truth prevail. It is through truth that we be set free.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Election Commission - Reformation
The Hulu Selangor and Sibu By-elections were just over. The former constituency went to BN while the latter to Pakatan Rakyat. In the Sibu by-election, DAP won by just slightly less than 400 votes after taking into consideration the 2500 odd postal votes.
The two by-elections exposed the good, the bad and the ugly policies and practices of the BN and PR. Besides, the campaigning modes were different between West and East Malaysia.
Each time a by-election is held, it pains me to note that so much public money is being poured by BN into the election machinery. The profligate abuse of its power by using manpower, assets and services of the various ministries was most unwarranted and should be investigated.
The BN was desperate to win the Sibu seat. So great was this intent that PM Najib cracked to certain voters, "If you help me , I will help you". And, this incident was being videoed and circulated in the internet.
The results in Hulu Selangor and Sibu had certainly antagonised many members of UMNO who accused that the Chinese of not being thankful for the many opportunities and wealth that they had amassed over the years.
Unfortunately, these scum-bags did not realise that the Chinese in general are by nature industrious and hard-working and they use their brains and sweats to eke out their livelihood. Besides, the political leaders must realise that they can fool most Chinese some of the time, some of the Chinese most of the time but they cannot fool all of them all the time.
What PM Najid did on the eve of the election in Sibu was rather odd. He obviously did not realise that most Chinese souls are not for sale. They would want justice, equitable oportunities to be accorded to their children to pursue their desired courses in the local universities, a competitive business environment, employment in the civil service, police and armed forces, incorrupt administration and NOT to be treated as second-class citizens and pendatang.
BN has over the years milked much of the natural resources of Sabah and Sarawak - particularly timber and petroleum. Basing on the developments taking place or have taken place during the past four decades, the East Malaysians have certainly felt cheated. And this swing to PR is also a strong message to the BN that the people are not happy with the CM who has been milking the Sarawak State's resourses almost dry.
Change is certainly needed in the two Eastern States in all fronts from the sore religious issue of Allah to agricultural and industrial developments. Substantial amount of the revenue realised from the sales of the States' resources must be ploughed back for social economic development of the people and the two states. Unless this is done, the BN will face a bleak future in securing the support of the people there.
From the results of the above two by-elections, it is clear that majority non-Malay were disenchanted with the BN leadership who has encouraged rampant corrupt practices, inefficient judiciary and police population force, the highly discriminatory, racialistic and religionistic public policies. Most frustrating among the non-Malays is that most of their children could not obtain scholarships and or pursue courses of their choice at local universities. The Government has forgotten that they work hard and contribute taxes to the treasury. Yet, others benefit from the fruits of their hard labour.
In view of the above, many parents have to work doubly hard in order to support their children to pursue and obtain qualications in their desired programmes.
In the said two by-elections, I just wonder whether the officers of EC were sleeping, incompetent or biased by not taking actions to ensure that the elections were fairly carried out. Money politics was blantant and rampant and yet the EC officers just turned turned blind and deaf to what went on before them.
There were prevalent financial enticements offerred to schools, temples, organisatins and individuals with a view of 'buying their favour' to vote for BN. If this is not a form of election rigging, what is?
Another highly despicable practice is the allowance of postal votes from those in the military or police forces. This practice has caused a lot of suspicion among the populace and it must be stopped altogether in future elections if fairness and transparency are to be upheld. In my view, postal votes are part of the process of gerrymandering.
Why is it so difficult to encourage all those in the military and poice forces on transfer to change their addresses to where they are physically stationed and cast their votes in the constituency wherein their respective stations or camps are located. I just cannot see why this cannot be done.
The other despicable conduct of the Election Commission is to purposely delay and with-hold the announcement of the election results when BN candidates lost in the election.
A point in reference is the last General Election in which the results in Selangor and Wilayah and the Sibu by-election where the people had to wait until the wee hours of the morning before the results were broadcast. This is most uncalled for. It does not reflect the independence of the EC.
The two by-elections exposed the good, the bad and the ugly policies and practices of the BN and PR. Besides, the campaigning modes were different between West and East Malaysia.
Each time a by-election is held, it pains me to note that so much public money is being poured by BN into the election machinery. The profligate abuse of its power by using manpower, assets and services of the various ministries was most unwarranted and should be investigated.
The BN was desperate to win the Sibu seat. So great was this intent that PM Najib cracked to certain voters, "If you help me , I will help you". And, this incident was being videoed and circulated in the internet.
The results in Hulu Selangor and Sibu had certainly antagonised many members of UMNO who accused that the Chinese of not being thankful for the many opportunities and wealth that they had amassed over the years.
Unfortunately, these scum-bags did not realise that the Chinese in general are by nature industrious and hard-working and they use their brains and sweats to eke out their livelihood. Besides, the political leaders must realise that they can fool most Chinese some of the time, some of the Chinese most of the time but they cannot fool all of them all the time.
What PM Najid did on the eve of the election in Sibu was rather odd. He obviously did not realise that most Chinese souls are not for sale. They would want justice, equitable oportunities to be accorded to their children to pursue their desired courses in the local universities, a competitive business environment, employment in the civil service, police and armed forces, incorrupt administration and NOT to be treated as second-class citizens and pendatang.
BN has over the years milked much of the natural resources of Sabah and Sarawak - particularly timber and petroleum. Basing on the developments taking place or have taken place during the past four decades, the East Malaysians have certainly felt cheated. And this swing to PR is also a strong message to the BN that the people are not happy with the CM who has been milking the Sarawak State's resourses almost dry.
Change is certainly needed in the two Eastern States in all fronts from the sore religious issue of Allah to agricultural and industrial developments. Substantial amount of the revenue realised from the sales of the States' resources must be ploughed back for social economic development of the people and the two states. Unless this is done, the BN will face a bleak future in securing the support of the people there.
From the results of the above two by-elections, it is clear that majority non-Malay were disenchanted with the BN leadership who has encouraged rampant corrupt practices, inefficient judiciary and police population force, the highly discriminatory, racialistic and religionistic public policies. Most frustrating among the non-Malays is that most of their children could not obtain scholarships and or pursue courses of their choice at local universities. The Government has forgotten that they work hard and contribute taxes to the treasury. Yet, others benefit from the fruits of their hard labour.
In view of the above, many parents have to work doubly hard in order to support their children to pursue and obtain qualications in their desired programmes.
In the said two by-elections, I just wonder whether the officers of EC were sleeping, incompetent or biased by not taking actions to ensure that the elections were fairly carried out. Money politics was blantant and rampant and yet the EC officers just turned turned blind and deaf to what went on before them.
There were prevalent financial enticements offerred to schools, temples, organisatins and individuals with a view of 'buying their favour' to vote for BN. If this is not a form of election rigging, what is?
Another highly despicable practice is the allowance of postal votes from those in the military or police forces. This practice has caused a lot of suspicion among the populace and it must be stopped altogether in future elections if fairness and transparency are to be upheld. In my view, postal votes are part of the process of gerrymandering.
Why is it so difficult to encourage all those in the military and poice forces on transfer to change their addresses to where they are physically stationed and cast their votes in the constituency wherein their respective stations or camps are located. I just cannot see why this cannot be done.
The other despicable conduct of the Election Commission is to purposely delay and with-hold the announcement of the election results when BN candidates lost in the election.
A point in reference is the last General Election in which the results in Selangor and Wilayah and the Sibu by-election where the people had to wait until the wee hours of the morning before the results were broadcast. This is most uncalled for. It does not reflect the independence of the EC.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Unscrupulous JMC and MC of High Rise
This article is written on the strength of the writer's actual experience in facing head 0n and his undaunted and selfless efforts in uncovering the mal-practices of a certain Management Corporation of a Mixed Development Project, of which he is one of the parcel owners, in the heart of the city and is pleased to share his experiences with property owners of high rise buildings.
So, property owners – beware of the unlawful sale & lease of common areas by unscrupulous JMC or MCs.
Many owners of high rise flats, condominiums and mixed development projects do realize that they are not getting a fair deal and treatment from their respective Joint Management Councils (JMCs) or Management Corporations (MCs) which, in many cases, not only fail to provide proper maintenance service to their respective properties but also fail to provide regular reports and accounts thereof despite complaints were lodged with them and to the authorities.
No wonder we often read that lifts in high rise buildings were not functioning, fire-extinguishers were not periodically serviced or not serviceable, rubbish was not disposed regularly, poor security services, poor lightings along the corridors and verandahs, water pressure low and break-ins, roof leakages, sewage pipe got clogged up thereby causing floods etc
In view of poor services, many owners just refuse to pay their monthly maintenance charges to the JMCs or the MCs as the case may be. But, ultimately they still have to pay up when they applied for strata titles for their respective properties.
This unsavory and unsatisfactory state of affairs is attributed to the general disinterest and nonchalance of unit owners who tend to leave others to look after their interests. It is time that they take an interest in the performance of JMCs or MCs by pressing and hounding them to produce management reports, accounts, attend AGMs and volunteer their services to serve in the JMCs or MCs. In this way, they will come to know and appreciate what is going on and take necessary actions to rectify the wrongs, untoward practices and improve the maintenance service.
Look not therefore what the JMC or MC can do for you but rather what you can do for the JMC or MC.
I am one of the parcel owners in Wisma Indah which is a mixed development project that is situated at the junction of Cockrane Road and Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur. The said project was open for booking sometime in 1991 and was completed in due time for occupation in 1993. Thereafter, pending the issuance of strata titles, the said property was managed by one company named, say, X
X at the material time was the appointed sales agent for a certain developer, Y. After vacant possession, X was appointed by Y to manage Wisma Indah for several years before one of the owners Z took over the management in mid 2001. From X to Z, no AGM was ever convened. The Councils comprised solely family members and relatives way into February 2009, when Z's cronies were voted out.
During its terms of office, X purportedly made itself out to be the owner of all the common areas of Wisma Indah and ‘sold’ many of the basement parking lots to some parcel owners by way of creatively drafted SPAs at varying and ridiculous prices from RM15.00 to RM15,000.00 per parking lot.
In the course of investigation, it was revealed that the Z had abused its authority by converting a certain area - which was reserved, planned and pre-approved by the authority for a food court – into a show-room for sale of motor cycles and office without the prior knowledge and consent of all the other parcel owners and worst of all without the approval of the authority . And all this time, Z has not paid nor is presently paying any rental for usage of the food-court area for the past decade to the MC
The matter has been reported to the authority. From what the writer learned , DBKL served notice in mid-January 2010 to Z to clear, remove and vacate within two weeks all its goods and paraphernalia from the said show-room and surrender the said property back to the MC; otherwise, DBKL could fine Z up to RM20,000.00 and for each day the directive is not complied with, an additional fine of RM500.00 will be imposed.
Surprisingly, Z merely ignored the DBKL directive. Thus far no action has been taken by the authority although a few months have elapsed and the dateline past. This thereby has not only deprived the unit owners of the food court facilities but also rental income for the present Management Corporation.
Under the circumstance, the parcel owners of Wisma Indah would want to know from the authority whether the present MC is entitled to claim from Z for all the previous years’ rental for converting and using the food-court area as his show-room.?
Secondly, they would want to know whether the X and Z have the power or right to dispose of the common areas of Wisma Indah without the prior knowledge and approval of the units owners?
Z and its associates had claimed that they had had ‘purchased’ more than 70 parking lots in the basement area, which, according to the approved building plans, forms part of the common area.
In all the SPAs signed between Z and X, there exists a common clause providing that in the event the SSB could not effect transfer of the several ‘sold’ lots to the buyer(s), the X is obliged to refund whatever money so received to the buyers.
We hope that the authority would respond to the above matters seriously for the benefit and protection of all the innocent parcel owners of Wisma Indah.
It is generally believed that the above happenings and practices do not just occur in Wisma Indah alone. Perhaps, what that came to light in Wisma Indah with all the dubious and devious transactions taking place all these years may well represent a tip of the iceberg; beneath which majority of property owners are ignorant and have been deceived for years on end by unscrupulous JMCs or MCs.
Authorities should and must act fast and stem out such illicit practices and activities.
Owners of properties are advised to take a special interest in the meantime to check on the performance and activities of JMCs, or MCs and ensure that they get what they pay for monthly.
Besides, there are also property managers in Kuala Lumpur which practically never or hardly provide proper maintenance service but continue to charge the owners since day one of taking vacant possession.
So, property owners – beware of the unlawful sale & lease of common areas by unscrupulous JMC or MCs.
Many owners of high rise flats, condominiums and mixed development projects do realize that they are not getting a fair deal and treatment from their respective Joint Management Councils (JMCs) or Management Corporations (MCs) which, in many cases, not only fail to provide proper maintenance service to their respective properties but also fail to provide regular reports and accounts thereof despite complaints were lodged with them and to the authorities.
No wonder we often read that lifts in high rise buildings were not functioning, fire-extinguishers were not periodically serviced or not serviceable, rubbish was not disposed regularly, poor security services, poor lightings along the corridors and verandahs, water pressure low and break-ins, roof leakages, sewage pipe got clogged up thereby causing floods etc
In view of poor services, many owners just refuse to pay their monthly maintenance charges to the JMCs or the MCs as the case may be. But, ultimately they still have to pay up when they applied for strata titles for their respective properties.
This unsavory and unsatisfactory state of affairs is attributed to the general disinterest and nonchalance of unit owners who tend to leave others to look after their interests. It is time that they take an interest in the performance of JMCs or MCs by pressing and hounding them to produce management reports, accounts, attend AGMs and volunteer their services to serve in the JMCs or MCs. In this way, they will come to know and appreciate what is going on and take necessary actions to rectify the wrongs, untoward practices and improve the maintenance service.
Look not therefore what the JMC or MC can do for you but rather what you can do for the JMC or MC.
I am one of the parcel owners in Wisma Indah which is a mixed development project that is situated at the junction of Cockrane Road and Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur. The said project was open for booking sometime in 1991 and was completed in due time for occupation in 1993. Thereafter, pending the issuance of strata titles, the said property was managed by one company named, say, X
X at the material time was the appointed sales agent for a certain developer, Y. After vacant possession, X was appointed by Y to manage Wisma Indah for several years before one of the owners Z took over the management in mid 2001. From X to Z, no AGM was ever convened. The Councils comprised solely family members and relatives way into February 2009, when Z's cronies were voted out.
During its terms of office, X purportedly made itself out to be the owner of all the common areas of Wisma Indah and ‘sold’ many of the basement parking lots to some parcel owners by way of creatively drafted SPAs at varying and ridiculous prices from RM15.00 to RM15,000.00 per parking lot.
In the course of investigation, it was revealed that the Z had abused its authority by converting a certain area - which was reserved, planned and pre-approved by the authority for a food court – into a show-room for sale of motor cycles and office without the prior knowledge and consent of all the other parcel owners and worst of all without the approval of the authority . And all this time, Z has not paid nor is presently paying any rental for usage of the food-court area for the past decade to the MC
The matter has been reported to the authority. From what the writer learned , DBKL served notice in mid-January 2010 to Z to clear, remove and vacate within two weeks all its goods and paraphernalia from the said show-room and surrender the said property back to the MC; otherwise, DBKL could fine Z up to RM20,000.00 and for each day the directive is not complied with, an additional fine of RM500.00 will be imposed.
Surprisingly, Z merely ignored the DBKL directive. Thus far no action has been taken by the authority although a few months have elapsed and the dateline past. This thereby has not only deprived the unit owners of the food court facilities but also rental income for the present Management Corporation.
Under the circumstance, the parcel owners of Wisma Indah would want to know from the authority whether the present MC is entitled to claim from Z for all the previous years’ rental for converting and using the food-court area as his show-room.?
Secondly, they would want to know whether the X and Z have the power or right to dispose of the common areas of Wisma Indah without the prior knowledge and approval of the units owners?
Z and its associates had claimed that they had had ‘purchased’ more than 70 parking lots in the basement area, which, according to the approved building plans, forms part of the common area.
In all the SPAs signed between Z and X, there exists a common clause providing that in the event the SSB could not effect transfer of the several ‘sold’ lots to the buyer(s), the X is obliged to refund whatever money so received to the buyers.
We hope that the authority would respond to the above matters seriously for the benefit and protection of all the innocent parcel owners of Wisma Indah.
It is generally believed that the above happenings and practices do not just occur in Wisma Indah alone. Perhaps, what that came to light in Wisma Indah with all the dubious and devious transactions taking place all these years may well represent a tip of the iceberg; beneath which majority of property owners are ignorant and have been deceived for years on end by unscrupulous JMCs or MCs.
Authorities should and must act fast and stem out such illicit practices and activities.
Owners of properties are advised to take a special interest in the meantime to check on the performance and activities of JMCs, or MCs and ensure that they get what they pay for monthly.
Besides, there are also property managers in Kuala Lumpur which practically never or hardly provide proper maintenance service but continue to charge the owners since day one of taking vacant possession.
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