KOTA KINABALU: Api-Api Assemblyman Dr Yee Moh Chai has called on the developers of high-rise buildings in Sabah who are currently acting as the “interim management corporation” for the purchasers, to provide a copy of their account of maintenance fees when requested by the purchasers. He made the call after receiving complaints from property purchasers that their developers have either failed or refused to provide the said account.

Dr Yee said ever since he highlighted the dilemma faced by the property purchasers due to the late or non-issuance of strata titles for their property, he has been receiving more calls seeking his assistance to help them resolve the problem.

Among those purchasers who have complained to him were those from Taman Public Jaya in Likas, Api-Api Centre, Centre Point Sabah, Desa Manis in Kasigui, Beverly Hills Apartments in Jalan Bundusan, Likas Court, Indah Court, Eden Heights and the Lucky Heights.

“I’m very surprised why the developers make it so difficult or almost impossible for the purchasers to obtain a copy of the account,” he said.

He said this was especially strange, when even the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developer Association (SHREDA) has categorically stated that all the monies that they received from the purchasers have to be used solely for the benefit of the purchasers.

Moreover, the developers who are the interim management corporation were purely holding the money on trust for the benefit of the purchasers.

He then cited that purchasers of apartments and shoplots in Penampang had to pay the so-called performance deposit of RM1,000 in addition to the RM720 in service charge to the developer.

“The total amount collected based on the number of units there (4,000 units) is a whopping RM6million, and it was also clearly stated by the developer that the purchasers will not be pay any interest for the money that they have deposited,” Dr Yee said.

However, it was a common knowledge that this money would be handed over to the management corporation to be set up by the purchasers once the strata titles were issued.

“Hence, the purchasers are keen to know where are the money is being deposited,” Dr added.

Besides this, Yee who is also the MP for Tanjung Aru noted that some purchasers have complained that the developer was charging an exorbitant amount of RM2,000 for the so-called “Consent Administrative Fee”, if the purchaser sold his or her property to another buyer.

“These are the complaints that I have received lately,” he said.