GEORGE TOWN: A shouting match ensued among residents of Taman Sri Idaman Block B during an annual general meeting which was held to elect new joint management body (JMB) members.

Both rival groups argued over the eligibility of certain residents who wanted to either vote or nominate themselves as candidates.

Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik, also the political secretary to the Penang Chief Minister, intervened to prevent the situation from turning uglier.

Ng explained that only those who had settled their maintenance fees were allowed to vote or run for JMB posts.

Five new committee members were then voted in, with Sashi Kumar Murugayan elected as the new JMB chairman.

The project at Bandar Baru Air Itam comprises 322 units and 10 commercial lots.

Its JMB took over the property’s management duties last year after the project developer wound up its operations.

Earlier, Ng said the residents were unhappy over the whereabouts of RM400,000 in the sinking fund and the performance of the flats? management company.

He added that it was inappropriate for the management ‘appointed by the now-defunct developer’ to collect professional charges amounting to RM8,973 from the JMB.

‘The amount was owed by the developer themselves before this JMB took over.’

On residents who did not pay maintenance fees to the previous management, Ng said he would ask the state insolvency department to look into the matter.

SOURCE: The Star