What have we “bought” ourselves into??!!

“7 break-ins occurred yesterday afternoon ~ 2 in Block A and 5 in Block B.” The text message came in from a neighbour on Friday morning.

I was shocked. Since the last 3 break-ins, which occurred just after the Hari Raya holidays (that happened during working hours i.e. about 2 pm, I was told), we heard of another 2 attempts. But things have been quiet since then. Residents were concerned and a few have upgraded their security system. The residents’ Pro-Tem Committee (PTC) has worked with the management to increase security measures i.e. patrol around the residential blocks (or so I have read and heard) since the 3 break-ins. Residents were also talking about having a Neighbourhood Watch.

But 7 break-ins in one day and all happened between the 5- 6 pm period (I have yet to ascertain as to the accuracy of the time) is outrageous. That signals two things ~ one, the burglars are getting bolder and two, it must be an inside job. Speculations are rife i.e. from burglars renting a unit to stash their ill-gotten gains and to hole up there, to whether the cleaners, gardeners and security guards are involved.

One thing for sure, the residents are feeling extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with management. For a new condo (occupancy began in March-April this year), there have been just too many issues cropping up in a matter of months ~ from the unresolved swimming pool incident to matters such as exorbitant deposits for renovation works and usage of BBQ area, cracks at the parking grounds and recently, at the walls of the apartments, car park woes, inadequate security measures i.e. lack of CCTV, the laid back attitude of some of the security guards, etc! The “tidak apa” attitude of the Resident Manager and the management does not help either.

What is getting on our nerves is that almost every request made is turned down; with management claiming a lack of funds or that it is not in the S&P that we signed! Management claimed that many residents have yet to pay up on management fees. Strange, I thought collection of management fees is under the responsibility of management and it should have no bearings on the delivery of the promise to the whole. Pardon my limited understanding of the law but shouldn’t the laws of businesses or corporations apply? Can you imagine that I have to tell my clients that I cannot deliver certain goods to them because my other clients have not paid up! Where is the blardy logic in that?

But wait …, management is still collecting management fees for a swimming pool that residents have been unable to utilise for almost 4 months now! And what about security measures??!! When we bought a condo, we bought it for our peace-of-mind with the thought that security is taken care of. What happened to the security services we paid for and are still paying for on a monthly basis if we can’t live with peace-of-mind? If management is being so calculative about the S&P, should we not be equally calculative on the delivery of the services stated in the S&P or the lack thereof?

For many residents here, this is our first home. There are many young couples and working class here; who have probably dumped their life savings for a nice, safe home. In the true spirit of neighbourliness, many of us have tried to adhere to the “house rules” of living in a gated community. And aside from a few bad apples, this is a very nice neighbourhood to live in.

Cotton candy or sour plum? Sugar or Spice?

Thursday’s events seemed to be “the straw that broke the camel’s back” for some residents. There have been differing opinions as to how to handle the innumerable issues here i.e. security being utmost in everyone’s mind. There are those who still advocate diplomacy and others who are absolutely fed-up with the lack of commitment from management and are calling for stronger actions ~ amongst which are involving the press, refusal to pay management fees, etc. to pressure management to act. Others have started to take security measures into their own hands i.e. installing their own private “CCTV”, signing up for the Neighbourhood Watch, reinforcing their locks, getting relatives to stay home during working hours to look after the place, etc.

Diplomacy or aggression? Cotton candy or sour plum? Sugar or spice? The discussion rages on. I have been a firm believer that diplomacy works better than aggression but now, I am questioning this belief. Almost nine months of occupancy and although certain things have improved, on the whole things seem to have worsen in this condo. Is it management’s fault or did they just have an incredible run of bad luck? I am beginning to believe in the former.

Those who maintain that diplomacy is the best plan to move forward argue that it is easier to get things done via the cotton candy way i.e. it is easy to convince someone with soft words and praise than confrontation. I do agree with that to some extent especially at the workplace. The more aggressive you get, the more resistance you face until things only move when their KPIs (Key Performance Indexes) are at stake. But on the opposite side of the argument, I have also witnessed complacency when too much leeway is given to these folks i.e. when you are too diplomatic, they take advantage of you. At some point, I have to get the following message across to these folks ~ “Don’t treat my kindness as weakness!” Like it or not, in certain situations, we would have to act aggressively or assertively.

There are those who believe that this is the way things are ~ other condos are facing the same issues and our management are better than some other condos. The law governing consumer rights here sucks compared to many other countries. But, if we are to always accept sub standard services, does it not mean that we are a party to encouraging sub standard services and further digging our own (consumer rights) graves?

The soft approach does not seem to work or if it does work at all, it is at an extremely slow pace. Are we willing to forsake our safety and security and wait for management to finally wake up to the call of residents? Are we going to wait for management to move their sorry arse (pardon the language) when something worse than burglary occurs? What if, instead of burglaries, they start to hurt people? Are we going to chance all that?

I say NO! But the next question is how do we deal with a management that seem so lackadaisical?

One of the suggested actions is to go to the press. But look at the results of the swimming pool incident! Four months down the line, despite the initial interests from the press, nothing much has changed. The pool remains closed and the excuse this time is that they are waiting for a third party to investigate. What the hell does that mean? Who should be pressuring the third party to speed up on the investigation? Are we to wait another year or two before something is done? Meanwhile, we are still paying for swimming pool maintenance fees! We were made to understand that this money will be set aside for future use. My question is where is the proof of that? And what future use? Why can’t the same pool of money be used to set up the CCTV system?

Another suggestion is to stop paying maintenance fees? But, what would be the repercussions of that? The act of one or a handful of residents would not have much impact. But the thought behind that act is pretty sound. The resident that proposed this said that to facilitate a speedier action, we need to act where it hurts most to management. And where else except to hit them at the pockets?! But there is no point doing that if only a handful of residents do not pay. We can’t go off half-corked executing something that will not yield results but would instead hurt us in the end.

Perhaps the game plan is to write a note to management indicating that we expect certain security measures within a specific period of time. These measures and the dates need to be spelt out clearly. Otherwise, the residents would act in accordance i.e. not pay maintenance fees until that has been fulfilled. We might need to look into the legality of the note and what repercussions. We might also need to seek advice or support from the consumers’ rights association or the consumers’ property rights association (if there is one).

I am not sure what is the best way to go but certainly, I believe we have exhausted all diplomatic actions. It is high time we kick some ass!