Push comes to shove

CF issued to apartments despite no water, electricity supply
News by Noel Achariam, www.nst.com.my

Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng (second from left) with home owners
outside their apartment block protesting the non-supply of water and electricity.

KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly a year after getting their keys, the owners of the Medan Putra serviced apartments in Bandar Menjalara are still unable to move in.
The reason? There is no water and electricity supply at their apartments although the certificate of fitness (CF) had been issued late last year.
The 500 home owners are now demanding to know why the CF was issued before the water and electricity supply was connected.
Their queries with the developer have drawn a blank.
Angry, more than 100 home owners staged a protest in front of the 30-storey apartment block on Saturday.
"I spend about RM900 every month servicing my bank loan and paying the maintenance fees. My apartment is completed, but I can't move in.
"I have no idea how long I can survive like this," said one of the owners, Connie Lim, 29.
She added that at present, the electricity supply at the serviced apartment was only from 9am to 6pm.
Another house owner, Chong Wei Yin, was disappointed with the developer.
"I was so excited last year when I collected the keys to my new home.
"But, when I went to my apartment, I saw that there was no water. I simply don't understand, how can the CF be issued without water and electricity supply?"
Chong said the owners had also been told to start paying their maintenance fees.
"Why do we need to pay maintenance fees, when we haven't even moved into the apartment?"
Segambut member of parliament Lim Lip Eng, who was at the protest, said that he would look into the plight of the home owners.
"The CF is an official document issued by the local authority to acknowledge that a certain building is safe and can be occupied.
"The local council should only issue the CF after all the conditions stipulated have been met, but it seems in this case, they have issued the CF without ensuring that the basic amenities are provided for," he said.
After speaking to the owners, Lip Eng and some of the home owners went to the developer's office to seek an explanation.
However, he too failed to get any answers. Instead, he was told that there would be a meeting between the developer and home owners next Wednesday and he was welcomed to attend it.
Things, however, nearly turned ugly when Lip Eng and the home owners were leaving the office.
Lip Eng and the home owners had gathered in front of the office to enable press photographers to take pictures when an employee from the developer's office rushed out and confronted them.
The man started shouting at the home owners who were brandishing placards and told the photographers to stop taking pictures.
A scuffle broke out between the man and some of the house buyers but Lip Eng managed to calm the situation.
Lip Eng, meanwhile, said he would be contacting the local authority to enquire about the CF issue.
Lawyer Derek Fernandez agreed with Lip Eng that the local authority should not have allowed vacant possession before ensuring that the building had water and electricity supply.
"City Hall has no authority to issue the CF if the basic amenities are not there. Legal action can be taken against the developer. The local authority must also issue an explanation why the water and electricity were not connected before the CF was issued."
The developer, Sri Melinger Sdn Bhd, declined to comment.