THE Joint Management Bodies (JMBs) and Management Corporations (MCs) under the Commissioner of Building (COB) can operate the strata schemes to ensure that essential facilities such as water and electricity supply, sanitary service, mechanical maintenance for lifts and others are sustained during the movement control order period (MCO).
Penang Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the latest instruction from the Local Government and Housing Ministry came with an elaborated standard operating procedure.
“The management office will not be opened to the residents. This is to minimise movement and to limit the transmission of the Covid-19 infection.
“The JMB or MC is required to issue a formal letter for staff validation. The operating hours will be from 8am to 5pm.
“Only two people from the JMB or MC can be present at any one time during the operating hours.
“The JMB or MC staff must be screened to ensure safety. Sanitisation measures and social distancing (at least one metre) must be complied,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
Jagdeep also said that the JMB or MC must ensure the safety of services providers, workers and the population in the strata scheme and heed the Government’s order from time to time.
“Among the actions that have been taken by the JMBs and MCs are to postpone or cancel all general meetings that are scheduled to be held during the MCO period; to close all non-critical facilities and areas such as halls, gymnasium, swimming pools, sauna, suraus and playgrounds; to close commercial premises (except those providing essential services) and education institutes at the strata scheme; to postpone renovation works or non-critical repair and maintenance works; and to limit the movements at the stratified schemes,” he said.
Jagdeep said that there were 1,341 stratified schemes on Penang island and 514 on the mainland.
“The figures translate to 221,594 parcels on the island and 79,594 parcels on the mainland,” he said.
He urged everyone to obey the MCO during this challenging period.
Also present were Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and Seberang Perai City Council mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan