Gathering at Club House, Saturday, 5th Dec 2009, 11.00am

Calling TT, Ad, Ed, Ping, Cat, Zorro, Vincent, Tze, Koay, J, KK, Prem, KPC, OSK, DK, Dell, Wah Lau, Lim, Choo, MPly, Chui and concerned residents of PG,

There is a discussion gathering tomorrow (Saturday, 5th Dec 2009), at 11.00am at the club house. Please bring your feedbacks or formal complaints which you have submitted to GE Tan for a session with the related parties.

See you all.

Danger from above....

This morning at 7:20am, I noticed a huge fallen branch leaning on the fence next to the jogging path. As usual, being a pain-in-the-ass for management office and MCs, I recorded the matter. I then called Yeoh and Gan later this morning to discuss on the issue. I also asked Desmond to look at the problem (since he was at the motorcycle parking lot near to the field), but he told me that he does not have the time for it. I believe he as one of the MCs should be concerned too, but apparently not.

I have filed a request to management office a few days ago to trim the trees located at the PG field, but yet nothing has been done yet. I know it is difficult to get the right contractor to do the job but at the same time we cannot delay the trimming too.

The fallen branch measuring at least 3 meters long and weighs approx. 15-18kgs can kill if it lands on someone's head. Imagine the force from 20 feet above...Ok, I know la that Pearl Garden has the insurance for such incidents, but will it help if some one die or paralyzed because of such accidents. I think prevention is better than cure....be smart la..

We went along the path and also found some really heavy broken branches hanging dangerously from above (the tree nearby the washing bay). So, when you walk or jog under these trees, watch out for falling branches...

Traffic Congestion In The Making

It is a pleasure to put up some of our residents' articles. This one here came from Albert and thanks very much.

Hi Jimmy,

I am staying in Pearl Garden. Recently, I have came across a news in local chinese newspaper which I think would affect all of us including Sungai Ara residents. Sorry for the chiong hei (long winded) email. This is more or less the content of the news.

25th Oct 09

To ease the heavy traffic in the Bayan Lepas old town road, the Penang JKR department will open a new

interchange road called Jalan Kampung Bukit, which will divert the traffic from Teluk Kumbar to Sungai Ara. It

means that for those residents staying in Teluk Kumbar who would like to go to the town area, they will have to turn left at the traffic light into Jalan Kampung Bukit where Taman Sri Bayu apartment is located, instead of passing through the Bayan Lepas old town area.

The Jalan Kampung Bukit road will eventually merge to the Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim where the resident from Teluk Kumbar will pass through the traffic light infront of the SP Setia, cemetry, Pearl Garden, Chung Cheng Primary School to go to Georgetown.

Currently the new Jalan Kampung Bukit road is still not open to the public yet as the JKR is still waiting for the traffic flow report. After the new road is opened, the JKR will change the Bayan Lepas old town road to one way. It means that for those who wants to go to Teluk Kumbar from Bayan Baru, they can still pass through the Bayan Lepas old town road. But not of the opposite direction. This news is reported in the Kwong Wah Jit Poh dated 25th Oct 09.

Fyi, the new interchange road will be opened next month. Please refer to the original news reported at this link, http://www.kwongwah.com.my/news/2009/10/25/2.html

As the resident of Pearl Garden and Sungai Ara as a whole, I personally think that this arrangement or "patch

solution" is going to create heavy traffic congestion along Jalan Dato' Ismail Hashim. Every morning and

evening during peak hours, the traffic flow in Sungai Ara is almost unbearable.

We will have to bear with heavy jam in the traffic light located in front of Chong Cheng Primary School and the traffic light at the cross road of Jalan Data Ismail Hashim and Jalan Tun Dr Awang. What the local authorities are trying to do is to move the traffic congestion problem from one place to another.

This will not solve the traffic problem but at the same time creating a bigger pile up along Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim which is already having problem coping with the increasing traffic. With such heavy traffic congestion, Sungai Ara property price will definitely be affected.

Currently, we are having difficulty trying to cross the road opposite of Pearl Garden (Jalan Dato Ismail

Hashim) due to heavy traffic from Setia Pearl Island direction. I could not imagine how the situation will be

if the road is used for those traffic from Teluk Kumbar as well.

Do you have any channel for us to complain/feedback to the local authority in order for them to find a better

solution?

I guess they will have to come to Sungai Ara during peak hour to realize that the traffic condition in Sungai Ara is no better than Teluk Kumbar and it might be worst.

I could think of a simpler solution. Instead of directing the traffic along Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, the traffic could be directed to Jalan Makamah. From Jalan Makamah, the road user will be able to turn to Jalan Tun Dr Awang. In fact, the road user could access back to Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah but that would require them to make an illegal U-Turn at the roundabout near the airport.

If the Local authority could allow traffic to flow to the roundabout, the condition will be much better. Please refer to the image Map.jpg for the alternative route that I mentioned. Apologize for the poor description. The road that was proposed by JKR is showed in cyan and green arrow. The alternative route that I thought of is rounded as blue.

Albert

Can We Use PG's Facilities To Earn Money?

Just received this comment below from a new resident of Pearl Garden and his or her questions are quite valid. Can GE Tan and MC comment on this? I am keen to know the answers too. Thank you very much.

Hello Jimmy,

Nice to meet you.

I’m curious to know whether we can use the facilities of PG’s club-house (like swimming pool, Gym room, Aerobic room, squash court) to earn side-income? Is there any rule/law in PG’s handbook describe the Do & Don’t?

Sometime I observed we do have Yoga-course, swimming course or other courses which I believe is not organized by PG right (I do see some outsiders coming to join the courses). hence, it triggers me to think whether we can use these facilities for business purposes.

If yes, what is the condition?

Rgs,

Resident from Block C

Attitude Problem, Nothing Else

Not sure if you wanna cry or laugh....After so many times of complains, still residents with attitude problem still throw their rubbish in this rubbish bin.

Why do you guys stuff in your old matteress into this bin too and see if it fits !

Rubbish At Block B...

Alamak, Ayoyo, Ah Ya, why like that one?

Need to say more? Why are people throwing rubbish in the most smallest rubbish bin at the ground floor? I think people are getting really lazy la.......The rubbish room is just a floor up, walk up la...

Please practise some real common sense....sigh

Light Cover

So, since making an official feed back to the management office using the official form does not bring any good, I am posting a few findings which require some attention from GE Tan or the MC.

This one is quite simple, just find and replace. The light cover is damaged and believe me almost all of these covers were replaced. I believe the quality of the cover is lousy and I would advise the management to change to a better quality type.

And I am sure readers from all floors agree to my suggestion.

This defect is located at Block A, 2nd Floor. Can you guys out there check for the similar problems and report back here. This can make the handyman's life easier. Thanks.

Another Break In !!!

There was another break in the Pearl Garden yesterday. This time the unit involved was B-3-2.

I was communicating via email with the CCTV Security project coordinator Mr. Lee about a week ago and I have asked him about the progress of the project. It was probably my senses that gave me the "vibes" that one of this days another incident will happen.

I was told by Mr. Lee in the email dated last week that the final selection of suppliers will be determined within 1 or 2 weeks.

Though we need the security system to be in place, we all need to be extra careful and protect ourselves with better security measures of our own.

My question here is why is the project taking so long to start? I am sure none of us want to be the victims. The suggestion to beef up the security of Pearl Garden is an old one, approval has been given to proceed with the works but yet nothing has progressed fast enough to deter another break in.

Tree Trimming Complaint sent to Penang State Government

This afternoon, I sent a complaint to the Penang State Government with regards to the response from the related departments such as MPPP and JKR to trim the trees near the main road. I was informed by JMC recently that MPPP has pushed the responsibility to JKR to trim the trees and will have to wait for a few more weeks before anything can be done. Totally, unacceptable.

Reference : Complaint No. 0903-0208 

Pearl Garden 1st AGM - Tomorrow

Notice of First Annual General Meeting for the formation of the Management Corporation (Perbadanan Pengurusan Pearl Garden) to be held on the 21 March 2009 (Saturday), at the Community Hall of Pearl Garden Condominium, Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, 11900 Penang.

Residents feedbacks and JMC's replies compilation (Updated V7 / 8:55pm / 25 Mar 09)

• I stayed in Block A and I have difficulty in watching our local channel such as TV1, TV3, NTV7, Channel 8 and etc. What happen here is sometimes very clear but lot of times very blur, can management check the antenna up there?
  

(Reply to Block A TV reception problem. Last week we just had a technician checked Block A & C's TV recption problems. We need specific unit # since problem is not rampant in any particular block. The type of problem reported is isolated to certain unit. If there is any problem with our MATV system, then all untis will be affected. This type of problem is normally from the booster or splitter at floor level or specific line error. Resident must be aware that if the fault is specific to only one unit, he will have to pay the cost involved as provided by Strata Title Act Schedule 3. In fact the problem to Block B was traced to the wall socket inside the unit. We are still working on Block C. I've recently rejected a quotation from Pensaga of RM8000+ for replacing whole system in Block C. That is not the way to run the maintenance. For block A, pls report to mgt office since we are working on the same subject.)

(Reception issue attended, A-10-2 / A-09-2)

• Level C parking lot’s fluorecent light up there is not working. i believe it switches to “alternate light to be on” in the midnight, this method is fine, but some of the light is consecutive off several lights that make the parking lot very dark, please kindly check this too.
  

(Done, no more issue)

• Probably a branch fell and damaged the fence along the jogging path. It has been there unattended for quite sometime now. Can the Pearl Garden maintenance section or JMC take charge to repair it as soon as possible? Thank you.

(Repaired by maintenance with full cooperation from JMC)

• It is also very important that after the fun and all, the empty firework shells are collected and thrown away into the rubbish bins. We have to practice such simple common sense, don’t leave your rubbish for some else to pick up.
  

(JMC instructed cleaners to remove rubbish from the parking roof, thanks to JMC)

• Better trim this tree before it collapses onto the roof of motorcycle parking area. I am afraid that the weight of the branches maybe too heavy for the roofing. Can the JMC or the gardener look into this? Thank you.

(Branches trimmed by the gardener, thanks to JMC, good job)

• Can the management team setup a few parking lots for visitor/relative? For example, sometimes we have relative from outstation come to visit us for 1 or 2 days, then before they reach, we will go and register at either management office or security guard post so our relative from outstation able to park inside for 1 or 2 days when they are here?
  

(No answer)

• “Escalator in Block A” (the one with yellow bult inside. When the escalator passes “level 8″, it will have a “TICK” sound, please kindly check for safety purposes.
  

(Solved by lift company with the assistance of JMC)

• On the parking issue, Pearl Garden inner road has served as an additional parking space for many years now and as more families occupying PG, space is rather limited at times. It is a hassle for many visitors to find a parking space, some may have to park their car across the road (near TYY or Aswing).Can we have a comment from the committee or management of PG on this matter?
  

(No answer)

• Is that any plan to put up security camera in all public area? What is the technical challenge? What is the cost of doing so? Maintaining method ?
  

(No answer)

• NEITHER THE PROPOSAL SOLVING THE PROBLEM. It has to be a building to provide 100-150 parking space.what is the possibility of extending the existing multistory car park to the land and move the field to the roof top of the car parkWhat is the cost like?
  

(The JMC have been working on this for quite a while. Our member Kam Heng spent much effort working on it. Briefly, We have covered all possibilities. The Jogging track field belong to District Office. We have written to them. The small patch beside the car wash belong to MPPP. We had worked with original architect/engineer, it is possible to convert car part roof top but amout is hugh, at least 150k depending on design. We have asked Pensaga to get quote on converting putting green and MPPP’s lot w/o cemmenting up the whole areas. If anyone has any proposal, please feel free to contact JMC or MC, after AGM.)

• Is that any detail on the proposed?I would like to know if the JMC has any detail in written. Please provide more detail for discussion here..
  

(There are too much details involved in the study to create more car park space. As mentioned earlier, the JMB has given go ahead to seek quotations on “putting green” and MPPP lot. The roof-top conversion involved plan approval and need services of building consultants. There are several options ranging from 150k to 300/400k. There is up-front of professional cost of 15-20k feasibility study cost. This will be a sunk cost if we are unable to proceed for whatever reasons.On the security system, it is at tender committee stage with short listing done. It involves installing cameras all round, card access for bike, rooms/visitors plus PA system and panic buttons and many more. The exact details have not been firm up and still p&c to tender committee. Residents are encourage to attend AGM for more details. Any proposal will be most welcome especially those engineering experts.)

• As we know AGM fall on this Friday morning, which lot of people are working, can’t this meeting been held in Saturday morning? Because more people will be able to attend if it is so.
  

(JMC managed to postpone the AGM to a weekend date)

• I don't have comment regarding this but I have a complain to Block B as I can hear someone blasting the speaker in midnight almost everyday. It's good that if you could help to start a topic on this as I am not sure which floor it is coming from. Appreciate that.
  

(Advice given.)

• Can the committee explain why the amount of Sinking Fund shown in the account is only 732k? Refer notice board. It is just 2000 x 366. What happened to the interest for past 10 years?
• Just to add another comment to the question of Sinking Fund. Building and Common Property ( Maintenance and Management) Act 2007 (Act 663) Section IV sub-sections 22 and 24 call for setting up two separate funds for Building Maintenance Fund and Sinking Fund. Using simple calculation, the Sinking Fund should have increased to RM1032.6k if at interest rate of 3.5% p.a. It is important to ensure that interests earned are accounted for and reported together with Sinking Fund.
  
• Can JMB management explain why the audited account is not distributed to all residents like other condo. Do JMB expect residents to stand in front of notice board to check the accounts. It is ridiculous. I propose to reject the accounts unless we are given a copy and are given sufficient time to go through them. Block A owner.
  
• It was minuted in JMC meeting dated 19 Jul 2008 that Sinking Fund together with interest earned to date be put into a separate account.
  

(I wish to refer to meeting minutes of JMC meeting 3/2008 held on 19 Jul 08 item 7.0 that the portion of FD for Sinking Fund be transferred back to its account with interest gain up to date.  This topic was raised by myself because the BPCA 2007 stated that 2 separate funds must be maintained.)

(If you read the balance sheet, there is another line item called Building Maintenance Fund, which total ~2million. The interest and monthly earnings go into that fund. The ‘sinking fund’ of 732k is the original sinking fund.)

(The auditor can always trace it back to past annual reports to figure out all interests earned over the years. The question is how we treat the interest…whether to use them for maintenance or keep them in the sinking fund. Typically other condo uses the interest earned to subsidize maintenance/upgrade projects.)

(I contacted the auditor about the figure.  I was later informed that the amout was Rm 1mil+ before a reclassifiation was done. I further the auditor shouldn't they audit the account according to Strat Titile Act & BCPA and not Company Act.  The auditor admitted so & agreed that interest earned from Sinking Fund should be added together as part of it.  It is the same treatment in Finance/Accounting standard.  I do not understand why Ms Teh is silence on this issue.)

• Can we have MPPP to trim down those branches to eliminate the danger of falling branches? Maybe our MC and GE Tan & Associates can initiate this? 
  

(JMC to follow up with MPPP or JKR, will provide estimated date soon.)

• Well, this is done by one of this leaflet "postman" who just put in the leaflets from various companies into our letter boxes, they don't care if you need it or not, their main objective is to ensure that every letter box has all the various leaflets. Sometimes, they come twice a day!!!!
  

(No answer)

• Squash court flooring slippery (court no. 1)
  

(Rectified, players satisfied with contractor's job)

• Lift roof panel broken / not installed
  

(Fixed, quick job, thanks JMC)

• Smell of a dead animal at carpark level B.

(Cleaners sent to investigate by JMC, found no dead animal, smell gone, thank you)

Lift Panel Fixed

                               Before

                              After

That's fast! The Block A lift panel was installed and it definitely looked better than before. Thanks to JMC and its team for a job well done. I also heard from the neighbours in Block B and C, that this issue was rectified too.

 

Pearl Garden 1st AGM : 21 March 2009

With the Pearl Garden 1st AGM around the corner, there are several interesting matters that residents need to know, here are some important ones that we would like to highlight:-

1. There are only 197 unit owners who have registered for the strata titles.  Only these owners are allowed to vote in the AGM. They can also nominate, be nominated to stand for election of council members provided they had paid up maintenances fee until Feb 2009. We believe many residents are unaware of this ruling.
2. With the formation of Managment Committee, we can choose our own name. If not, MPPP will issued us the standard name such as Badan Pengurusan Pearl Garden.  We can also design our own logo for all stationery.  
   

Maybe after the AGM, the new Management Committee can hold a contest for logo design open to residents of Pearl Garden only.