Penang enforced the Strata Management Act 11 days after the other states because it was not aware of any deadline to submit confirmation.

All the other states enforced the Act on June 1 but it only came into effect in Penang yesterday.

Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik said the state government had assumed that it could submit its confirmation on any date before June 1.

“The other states submitted their approvals by May 26, but we only did so on May 28.

At a press conference earlier, Ng said Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan had said in Parliament on Wednesday through a written reply that the Act would only be gazetted and enforced in Penang later as the state submitted its confirmation for the Act on May 28.

Ng said that for the strata management tribunal to be set up in Penang, a resolution had to be passed in the state assembly to enable the ministry to appoint committee members.

“To date, only Perak and Malacca have passed the resolutions in their assemblies.

“I hope the tribunal, which will be set up by early next year, will help solve problems faced by owners of high-rise units,” he added.

The Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757) was introduced to replace Act 663 or the Building and Common Property (Maintenance and Management) Act 2007.

The new law allows both the landlords and tenants to be brought to court, as compared with the previous Act, which only allowed action to be taken against landlords.

The Strata Management Act streamlines the issuance of strata titles and makes it faster for an owner to obtain it from the housing developer.

On a related matter, Ng said that a seminar on the Act would be held here on June 28.

“It will enlighten the public on how the Act works and how it can be of help to them,” he said.

The seminar would be held at Auditorium C, Level 5, Komtar from 3pm to 7pm.

“A leading lawyer, who is well versed in strata management and a chartered accountant will conduct the seminar,” Ng said.

The registration fee is RM50 per person.

For details or registration, call 04-227 0215 (Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 5pm and Friday from 8.30pm to 10pm) or head to Ng’s service centre at 72-G, Anson Road.

The closing date for registration is on June 23. It is limited to 150 people only.

Source: TheStar.com.my

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