Tarun Roy looking at the LAP banner warning of possible water cuts outside Cherry Apartment in Ipoh.
RESIDENTS of Block A and B of Cherry Apartment in Ipoh, Perak, are shocked to learn that they have accrued up to nearly RM88,000 in water bill arrears.
Those who spoke to StarMetro said they only came to know about the unpaid bills during a meeting with the apartment’s management last month.
This followed a banner hung outside the premises by Perak Water Board (LAP) warning residents of a water cut if the amount is not paid.
Resident RN Tarun Roy Bhardwaj said when he checked with LAP, he found that just over RM20,000 have been paid to the utility provider throughout 2025.
“A sum of RM2,000 was paid in February, with a further RM18,080 paid on Dec 4 and 5.
“There is still some RM67,710 in arrears owed to LAP.
“We are unsure when the amount started to accumulate,” he said.
Tarun Roy, 55, said residents were worried that there could be a water cut in the near future.
The former security guard, who has been staying at the apartment for about 25 years, said residents paid a maintenance fee of RM80 every month to the management committee (MC).
“There are 192 units here, with most of them occupied.
“The management should have collected about RM15,200 every month,” he said.
Apart from the water cut fears, he said residents also faced other issues such as cracked flooring and pothole-ridden roads within the premises.
“Undergrowth within the premises is also not cut properly,” said Tarun Roy, adding that snakes have also been found on the premises.
Another resident identified only as Cheng said this was the first time residents have encountered the unpaid water bill issue.
She said the management should have called for an emergency meeting earlier if they found it hard to pay the water bill and should not have allowed the arrears to accumulate to such a huge sum.
“LAP should also have alerted us sooner, when the arrears hit about RM25,000,” said the canteen operator and apartment resident of about 30 years.
“We just don’t understand how the arrears are now more than RM80,000.”
Cheng, a former MC treasurer, hoped the management could settle the issue soon.
“We don’t feel good with such a huge sum looming over our heads.
“We are not a condominium and we don’t need the place to be beautified, but the premises and amenities need to be properly maintained,” she said.
When contacted, the apartment’s MC chairman MV Raj Veeran said the issue with the arrears has been resolved.
He said discussions with LAP were held on settling the remaining sum.
“There were some problems with leaks and also with some of the water meters.
“The issues are in the midst of being resolved,” said Raj Veeran, adding that there were also some defaulters among the residents who had not paid the maintenance fees for some time.
