Give the tenants some space to breathe. – UMHV
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10: United Malaysian Hindu Voice (UMHV) have been reached by the public regarding the compulsory maintenance fees of high-rise buildings being charged. “I would like to make a few highlights that will help with some attention,” says the UMHV chairman P. Navindran.
Navindran requested the management companies out there to not put pressure on the residents for the maintenance fees. This is because the majority of the residents are facing financial difficulties ever since the Covid pandemic. He also mentioned that we have been living with compromised income for the past 18 months with difficulties to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis. Most of us are either working for a salary or running a business. Needless to say, the financial downside has hit everyone equally – and some very very badly.
“It is supposed to be understood automatically on the monthly settlement plan to be postponed, instead of asking residents to come and apply to get one. Some places even making it harder by blocking lift access making residents climb up the staircase no matter which floor they live in. Giving this kind of pressure to already mentally stressed people will increase more of the PTSD patients in my opinion. We are hearing more suicidal cases more than ever this past month. People are going disorientated with the desperation to continue living and putting food on the table for them and the loved ones taking note that the defaulters do have elderly and very young kids at home to feed as the highest priority for now.
“While the banks are stepping in with measures to help people by offering the moratorium, even ministers are willing to compensate their pay to help with the Covid situation. Companies have already moved to winding up and retrenching staff, hence, I strongly feel that the management should be more understanding and be considerate than ever during this dire situation,” he added.
Moreover, He stated that the company can call for an alternative to show that the company is having some courtesy over the residents that has been giving in profits to the company all these years. The property management has been taking action to block their residents from utilizing public facilities such as the swimming pool, playground, sauna baths, and so on to curb the spread of the virus. He raised a question if its fair to charge the fees which include the facilities that have not being used by them for more than a year now.
“The residents will be grateful if the management of high-rise buildings takes some generous steps towards their residents and we on behalf of the residents, seek your kind cooperation to consider a halt to the notice or the JMC to compensate on behalf of the residents of any properties that come under strata management until the pandemic is over,” he added.
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