A showdown is also expected between the current JMB members and unit owners at the annual general meeting tomorrow (AGM).
“The owners are ready for a vote of no confidence at the AGM against the JMB members and the management. We encourage all owners to come personally to vote for change,” said Zara Davies, a spokesperson for the owners.
She said they were unhappy with the management company, Castle Vision Global Management Sdn Bhd (CVGM), despite getting the support of JMB chairman Yap Kim Ching.
She claimed that the association’s members were unaware of Yap’s appointment as JMB chairman or CVGM’s 10-year management contract as they received no notices for the AGMs.
However, Yap denied this when asked to respond, saying AGM notices were sent every year.
Davies also asked why the JMB bank account with CIMB, set up in 2007, was closed in 2015.
“We want to know where the money collected by the mall’s management has gone if not the JMB account,” she added.
But Yap said the JMB bank account was only temporarily inactive and was now being used again to receive maintenance funds.
Yesterday, FMT reported complaints by shop owners over problems of occupancy and poor facilities at the mall.
One complaint against the management was the removal of a revolving stage in the mall, said to be a key attraction that drove many to buy units there.
The management said the revolving structure had been out of order, with a decision made in 2016 to replace it with a 1,800-sq ft stage.
But Davies said the original structure which was dismantled had been sold for just a fraction of its cost of RM3 million.
She also questioned how proceeds from the sale were used, saying the JMB had not submitted any audited accounts.
Davies also took to task the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and its commissioner of buildings (COB), saying they had ignored emails from owners on the two-year delay in the issuance of strata titles as well as the lack of proper record of owners with the land office.
“The emails were also copied to the menteri besar, the housing and local governance minister, the MPAJ president and the court-appointed liquidator who has not received the full cooperation of the JMB and the management, resulting in the delays.”
A spokesman for MPAJ denied this, saying the council had responded to the emails, with a probe launched by the housing and local government ministry.
Davies said they had to “practically demand” for the notices of Thursday’s AGM from the COB on Oct 1 before finally receiving them two weeks later.
Meanwhile, Yap said the mall’s audited accounts were produced every year and shared with the owners.
“During the AGMs, the majority of owners are satisfied with audited accounts and they can always come to the office and check,” he said.
“I’m also an owner so I too want to see the mall succeed. Whoever can manage it well, that is important to me.”
Yap also defended his team’s performance, saying the mall was in a much worse state when they took over in 2014, with many owners failing to pay their maintenance fees.
He said there were plans to turn the mall around, which will include an education centre, music academy, sky bar, swimming pool and cafe.