KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) will appoint experts to study on how to resolve longstanding issues faced by residents of Pending Heights flats first before considering taking over the management of the flats.
Its mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said to give him some time to study as the root of the problem needs to be identified and solved.
“To take over an issue, we need to study it first. For instance, we cannot say we have studied the case and drain out the water but when rain falls, it floods again,” he told reporters after a meet-and-greet session with the people at Petanak Market yesterday.
He said it is sad to see the current condition of the flats as such problems should not be happening in the city area.
“I’m not blaming anyone. But we (council) will do our part to solve the problem,” he said.
He went on to say that there are some legal issues that need to be resolved. He also said he did not want the council to play the role of a management company.
However, Wee suggested that the council could assist the management company to better manage the property.
“We want the people to have a sense of belonging. If people just run away from their responsibilities and the council comes in, then we will end up managing all the buildings in MBKS area.
“Therefore, responsibility and accountability for the developer should be enhanced,” he stressed, adding that the council will hold a dialogue with the tenants and shop owners to find a comprehensive solution.
He said he sees that the management company still has to provide a clean and conducive environment for the flat, in which the council cannot maintain on a long-term basis.
“Taking over will be the last choice. The ordinance (Strata Titles Ordinance 1995) will allow us to move in because we don’t want it to be a no man’s land.
“We cannot deny the fact it is under MBKS’ jurisdiction. We will follow the ordinance because we cannot act illegally. We must protect the interests of both the council and people,” stressed Wee.
On Sep 7, Wee and Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth secretary Milton Foo inspected the situation of the flats.
On Sep 9, Foo in a statement had urged MBKS to take over the management of Pending Heights flats due to the longstanding issues faced by residents for some two decades.
Among the issues faced include overgrown vegetation, grass and bushes as well as waste, garbage or debris scattered around the bin centre.
