RESIDENTS of Desa Green flats in Penang are frustrated with a fellow resident who has installed a flue outside his unit, causing smoke to travel to the other units.

Desa Green management committee chairman Krishnamoorthy Muthuveloo, who spoke on behalf of the residents, said they tried to get the owner to remove the flue without success.

?I have written to the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) from the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) Valuation and Property Management department regarding this matter but they have not taken any action apart from issuing several warning letters,? he said.

Krishnamoorthy said the COB sent letters dated Jan 17 and March 8 to the flat owner asking him to remove the flue, each time giving him two weeks to do so, which he ignored.

?These letters were also forwarded to me,? he said.

?On March 29, the flat owner sent me a letter saying that he had permission from the previous committee and I would have to face the consequences if I removed the flue.?

Krishnamoorthy said he also wrote to the previous committee asking for details of the members and why permission was given, but received no reply.

?On April 14, the COB sent a reminder to the flat owner stating that flues are not allowed in flats under the Third Schedule of the Strata Titles Act 1985, and the management committee had the authority to enforce minor laws or rules with regard to their building.

?Later that day, I received a letter from his lawyers stating that the owner have permiss ion to install the flue,? he said.

Krishnamoorthy said he was elected by the residents to resolve the matter peacefully.

?If I remove it myself, it may cause ill-will among us as we live in the same area. I want to solve this matter amicably.

?A lady living in one of the units has also shown me a doctor?s letter confirming that she has a skin reaction resulting from the smoke from the flue. I hope this matter can be solved as soon as possible,? he said.

Penang MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau deputy chief Lim Thoon Deong said that he had contacted the MPPP about the issue and was told that the council was ?looking into it? and needed to ?refer to higher authority?.

?I urge the COB to quickly resolve this matter. They should send some officers to visit this unit and inspect the matter themselves. It is not fair for the committee to remove the flue without the COB,? he said.

SOURCE: The Star