SELANGOR plans to increase by 50% the number of joint management committees at flats and apartments in the next three years.

This is because about 520 apartments and flats in the state are without joint management bodies (JMB) and management committees (MC), said Housing, Building Management and Urban Living committee chairman Iskandar Samad (PAS- Chempaka).

“The Selangor Housing Development Board (LPHS) hopes to have at least 260 committees set up in these flats and apartments that do not have JMB for the benefit of the people,” he added.

LPHS also has a subsidiary company Perumahan dan Hartanah Selangor Sdn Bhd to manage PPR Kota Damansara.

Iskandar said this was a pilot project for the housing board to determine if the company or other similar entities could help manage flats and apartments without their own JMB or MC.

He said this in response to a query by Rajiv Rishyakaran (DAP-Bukit Gasing) on the number of flats and apartments without JMB or MCs in Selangor.

The state, he added, hoped to encourage flat and apartment residents to set up their own committees so they can tap into the various projects set up to assist them.

Iskandar said they had focus groups to guide the residents on the roles to help govern their area in hopes of empowering them.

On Tiew Way Keng’s (DAP-Teratai) question whether the state would consider settling debts for all the apartments and flats that cannot afford it, Iskandar said the state did not have the provisions to do that just yet since most of the debts were exorbitant.

He, however, said the people could benefit from the various funds including the Skim Ceria and Skim Lift Ceria to repair old lifts and spruce up old buildings.