Tropicana chides angry ‘rep’ for his rude behaviour

PETALING JAYA: The man recorded on video smashing a luxury apartment has received a rebuke from the developer who claims that he is not the owner of the apartment but a representative.

Tropicana Corporation Bhd said it does not intend to negotiate with the man, saying that his demands are “unreasonable”.

In a combo of several videos, the irate man, wearing a safety helmet, goggles and gloves, complains about the functionality and finishing of the apartment.

He places red markings on the floor using a spray can, saying that the marble flooring has cracks and chips that are “unacceptable” for a luxury apartment.

After smashing the dining table with a sledgehammer, he threatens to break the entire unit before knocking on the marble flooring as he questions its quality.

The video recordings went viral.

In a statement, Tropicana claimed that the property owner, who is not in the videos, took vacant possession of her unit on March 23 and was satisfied with it, except for a “potential defect” in the marble flooring.

“The owner lodged a defect report solely on the marble flooring on April 1. Tropicana was ready to rectify the defects based on its standard operating procedure, and in accordance with the terms of agreement with the owner.

“The man in the video, who is the owner’s representative, demanded that representatives of the developer, the main contractor and the consultants be present at the unit for a meeting on April 10 to address the defects,” it said, adding that the meeting took place as planned.

However, before the consultants were able to explain the typical natural characteristics of marble flooring, the man deviated from the flooring defects and started becoming aggressive, the statement said.

After wrecking the interior of the apartment, the man also made specific verbal demands to Tropicana staff that included monetary compensation.

He also threatened to make it his “life mission” to tarnish Tropicana’s reputation if the company does not accede to his demands.

Tropicana noted that it stands firm by its consultants and staff who have shown professionalism in handling the matter.

It also pointed out that based on a customer care survey, 89% of its purchasers expressed satisfaction with their units and said they would recommend a Tropicana project to their friends and families.