Strata property owners should know their rights involving any issues related to the joint management body (JMB) or management committee (MC) members who are in charge of the building management of strata residences.

Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said the problem nowadays is that many owners of strata properties are still not aware of what strata actually means and what rights the Strata Management Act (SMA) 2013 entitles them to.

“They should know that strata properties not only refer to high-rise units (vertical strata titles) but also to gated or guarded housings (horizontal strata titles).

“Strata owners also have the right to have an annual general meeting (AGM), which must be held within 14 months after the last AGM.

“They also have the right to elect their management committee members. And it is very crucial for them to elect a responsible and reliable strata management committee to ensure that the common property is well maintained and the house rules enforced.

“It is also a developer’s responsibility to form JMB or MC in stratified residential premises or else we will take stern action against them,” Yew said during his opening remarks of strata management webinar via Zoom today.

According to Yew, Penang has the third-highest number of stratified properties throughout the country.

“Meanwhile, MBPP is the local authority with the second-highest number of stratified buildings after Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in Malaysia.

“There are 1,368 stratified schemes on the island comprising 229,485 units,” he said.

Yew also urged strata owners to pay their management bills regularly.

“This is important so that the management body can use the funds towards the betterment of the property, especially in terms of well-maintained facilities.

“At the same time, the management body also should play their part professionally in managing the money by keeping the strata owners updated on the flow of the money,” he added.

Source: Buletin Mutiara