PETALING JAYA: The joint management body (JMB) of an apartment in Taman Medan, with only three functioning lifts catering to over 1,000 households, cannot afford the repairs.
A member of the JMB, who declined to be named, said the management struggles to collect maintenance fees from residents every month.
The money collected is just enough to cover basic operational expenses for the apartment, the source said.
The apartment's arrears for maintenance services exceed RM100,000.
"We (JMB) try our best to resolve the issue (broken-down lifts), but residents must understand the financial difficulties we face.
"We have submitted insurance claims, but the process takes time. We have already ordered the spare parts for the lifts.
"We have tried many times to get residents to settle their arrears."
The JMB representative said some residents owe the management thousands, even though the maintenance fees for each unit cost only RM53 per month.
Yesterday, it was reported that residents of the apartment have been struggling to leave their units and return home because three of the six lifts in the building are not operational.
The situation has residents forming a beeline to enter a lift, with waiting times stretching over 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya City Zon 18 Councillor Nabil Halimi said the apartment owners and JMB must find a way to resolve the issue.
"The residents must give their commitment and do their part by paying their maintenance fees, as their arrears can affect everyone else."
He said, on its part, the JMB must act against those who refuse to pay maintenance fees by referring them to the Commissioner of Buildings, who regulates strata management issues.