Penang Watch

3 of us from Pg Watch went to the meeting at Sg Ara at 10.00am, to meet up with residents who are keen on meeting us to discuss about addressing the complaints of thug and unreasonable cleaning charges. We met with some residents and brief them about what to look out for in setting up a Residents Association-because there are many ways where the RA can be hijacked -even by the developer ! After that we took a tour to Desaria to say halo to the `famous' thugs-and met 2 youngish thugs (introduced by the guards at the guard house as `security for the renovation contractor') who didn't quite hide their thugish look.

I told the residents who turned up that 2 kinds of people may want to hijack and divert the RA for their own purposes which will be hugely detrimental to the residents. 1-the developer-who often give units away to contra their payments to the contractors. These contractors have interests with the developer and thus are willing to speak for the developer (eg one post here who support the Rm450.00 `cleaning charge'). If they take over the RA -residents are gone. And in Penang there are numerous RAs which are controlled by such developer-linked parties.

The 2nd group which has been very successful is the political parties. Usually they (and also the group above) will select their own people to sit in the committee of the RA-and few people are informed of their meetings-and elections ! Once they take over they do horse trading with the developer to get advantages for their `members' in exchange for the RA disregarding the residents' real interests. They are only interested in positions and utilising the apartments' facilities eg for party meetings. One notorious eg happened in Jelutong where the RA even use RA fund to employ a few party workers from a big party in Malaysia, who do not have to do any work ! They are normally employed as `guards' or `maintenance personels' who are usually not around.

Notice the way they operate : secrecy and help their own `members'. 

So it is important for the genuine residents to form a RA which is genuinely interested to help the residents -and hold the meetings openly so everyone can join.  This is where some objections come : aren't you scared of being noticed by the developers and their thugs ?

Actually the developers and the thugs are the ones who are really scared if you hang around in a big mob-this is the only language which these `power' conscious folks understand ! The reason is : the developers and the thugs are a minority compared to the residents -so if residents turn up in number -that is the only safeguard for your safety. Not hiding away and avoiding them ! Not supporting the RA or accepting an RA which is scared of the developer are not options when you can legally and openly form a RA which the developer has to deal with by law.

In any case forming any group in secrecy will attract suspicions of selectivity-and biases in selecting the committee members. This will easily cause unhappiness and charges of one-sidedness by the majority who are left out. And finally when they surface to face the residents-eg when they need to deal with developer, their unrepresentativeness will become a great liablity and undermine their crediblity.

This however did not stopped a resident who contacted Pg Watch earlier to spread misleading info that the meeting this morning-actually called by Pg Watch, had been cancelled ! After I called some residents who expressed willingness to attend the meeting earlier I was told that a resident had indeed SMS around to spread the information, while no one authorised him to do so. Worst he obtained the phones contacts from me -because he offered to help contact these enquirers. To be transparent he actually called me last night to discuss with me about postponing the meeting allegedly because he hadn't got the number of `members' he needed-and also SMS me about how people are scared to come to an open meeting because they are scared of being `chopped' by the developer. He even tried to link it with Sean's house being smashed. Is he subtliy spreading the intimidation from the developer ? Why help the developer spread the white terror ?

I told him that since there are some more messages expressing interests to attend the meeting -who didn't leave any phones or emails, I'll go anyway and welcome him to come along. At no time did I asked him to postpone the meeting on my behalf.

At the Dinas Nasi Kandar restaurant located at the shop lots outside Desaria I called this guy a few times -and he never answered.  Looked like he is pursuing a different tack which I adviced against. Anyway he is entitled to do what he liked -but other residents should be extra careful with attempts to form an unrepresentative RA out of some hush-hush operations. Quietly the same methods will also suit the developer who may be happy to `buy' these few folks up-since they are not known to the residents and move secretly -but seek to speak for the rest of the residents.

I'll publish his SMS later when the situation warrant it.

I hope that the residents who seek a group voice to deal with the developer and the thugs to think critically when they select their RA committee members. Avoid being hijacked by the interests who are different from yours. Don't take a ready-made line up-diversity is always a better bet to let all voices be heard.

After the meeting we drove into Desaria with one of the residents who turned up. Immediately we met 2 youngish thugs stationing themselves besides the guard house. They were confirmed to be the `security' for the renovation contractor. 1st time to have heard such `security'. The guy just drove his bike up and down the road with a walkie-talkie in his hand when we were walking around. He also flaunt some obvious illegality in his movement-tell you folks later. Their photos later too !

Anyway hope that the residents who are interested to pursue your cause against the unreasonable charges and the thugs to contact me either thru phones (04-2617585 or 013-5900339) or email : penangwatch@gmail.com Don't let fear consume your legal rights !

Ong BK

Coordinator

Penang Watch