After being sued by the joint management body (JMB) of the Royal Strand and Lovell blocks of serviced apartments, Country Garden said it has appointed lawyers and will “vigorously” defend itself.

The joint management body said 27 letters were sent to the company from 2018 to 2022 listing the apartments’ defects, but they were not rectified. It said a professional engineer was engaged to confirm the defects and alleged shoddy workmanship.

It also said it spent RM700,245 to rectify some of the urgent problems such as leaking water tanks, faulty electrical wiring and blocked sewage systems that were causing inconvenience to the more than 1,000 owners.

In a statement today, Country Garden maintained that the construction process and materials used in the Danga Bay project had met the requirements set by the authorities.

“The construction process, materials and method are reviewed and monitored by qualified consultants and the relevant government departments,” it said. “There is no use of inferior materials or non-compliance with any regulations, including the alleged ‘shoddy work’.

“The relevant designs have been approved and accepted by the relevant government department and qualified consultants.

“Needless to say, such hidden dangers never existed, otherwise it will not obtain the approval of the relevant government departments.”

Country Garden Danga Bay is part of the China-owned Country Garden group which is developing the Forest City project on four reclaimed islands in the Johor Straits.

The prices of apartments in the Royal Strand condominium project range from RM345,000 to RM3 million each, according to property websites.

The JMB is seeking a court order compelling the developer to appoint a professional independent engineer to assess the damage and repair all defects at the developer’s cost, reimburse it for repairs and the fee of an independent consultant.