Tense ‘meeting’ over Beverly Hills Phase 2 water issue
KOTA KINABALU: Beverly Hills Phase 2 Apartment Management Committee (MC) chairperson Susan Taylor has assured unit owners who risk water disconnection this Thursday over RM492,073.70 in water arrears that the committee would do its utmost to ensure they will continue to receive water.
“I will personally again talk to the relevant government ministers, even to the Chief Minister if necessary to strongly appeal to them for a six-month extension period,” Susan told more than 50 unit owners who attended a “meeting” to discuss the matter at the multi-purpose hall there last Sunday.
“I am appealing to all the residents to stay calm ... we will do our best to protect the interest and welfare of everybody in our beloved apartment ... I will personally not allow our water supply to be disconnected on Thursday and onwards,” she said.
Moreover, Susan said a businessman who owns more than 200 units in Beverly Hills Phase 2 had expressed intention to assist the management committee to address the problem as a ‘Plan B’ option.
Commenting on the Nov 15 notice of disconnection issued by the Water Department, she said the management committee who was given until Thursday to settle its accumulated unpaid water bills amounting to RM492,073.70 will be appealing to the Ministry of Finance and other related government agencies for a sixmonth extension period.
“We are optimistic that the newly formed Warisan-led government spearheaded by Chief Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal will consider our request based on humanitarian grounds... we are now ready to give initial payment and the rest will be settled on instalment basis for six months,” Susan said.
All the residents of Beverly Hills Phase 2 occupying the 996 units in the area risk water disconnection if a compromise on the settlement of the half a million ringgit debt is not reached by Nov 15.
A group of concerned unit owners led by Chan Man Kit, Angela Ko and Mr Raven and their supporters had organised the meeting which began at 2pm.
During the afternoon gathering, the participants were briefed on the situation and the risk of a possible water disconnection.
Many of the residents voiced objection to a proposal from the management committee requiring them to each contribute RM495.05 to help settle the unsettled bills.
As an alternative measure, the organisers proposed and asked whether the residents were willing to make an advance payment of management fee of RM83 per three months to help settle the debts.
They also demanded the officers of the management committee to be transparent with all the records for obvious reason.
The tense meeting was said to be disrupted by a commotion when one of the organisers objected to having his picture taken.
The person taking the picture was allegedly punched in the face by another participant.
Despite the tense situation inside the multi-purpose hall, the meeting adjourned with smiles after Susan assured them that water disconnection will not occur on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Penampang District councillor Richard Chong who rushed to the meeting assured that he will bring the matter to relevant authorities to help find an appropriate and speedy solution.
He also urged all the residents in the area to stay calm and work in unison with their management committee for the betterment of all.