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Act provides a robust platform for subsidiary proprietors to participate

Mr Yak Chin Hua’s letter “Some practices deter condo owners from participating in estate management” (May 12) created an impression that managing agents and council members create roadblocks against subsidiary proprietors keen to participate.

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Chan Kok Hong, President, Association of Strata Managers

Mr Yak Chin Hua’s letter “Some practices deter condo owners from participating in estate management” (May 12) created an impression that managing agents and council members create roadblocks against subsidiary proprietors keen to participate.

One need only attend an annual general meeting (AGM) to understand that this is furthest from the truth.

The brickbats that are hurled unfairly at council members and managing agents for not containing inflationary costs today are the real deterrents.

However, these very proponents claim to be busy when they are invited to participate in the council the following year.

The Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act provides a robust platform for subsidiary proprietors to participate. They are allowed to attend council meetings, remove members and table motions at the AGM.

Complaints to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) are also responded to. To demonstrate our system’s efficacy, the BCA wrote immediately to our association’s member firm to investigate Mr Yak’s letter.

His requisition to include a motion in the coming AGM was received after the notice of AGM had been sent. The Act has a provision that late notices will be tabled at the following year’s AGM.

We advise subsidiary proprietors to submit their requisitions any time during the year so that these may be tabled and discussed at an AGM.

A motion to table a resolution at an AGM is a highly technical matter, requiring some guidance.

For example, a motion to propose an improvement to common property can only be voted on at an AGM if it is specific about the work scope.

It must also empower the council to appoint the consultants and contractor and obtain approval from the relevant authorities. The location must be specified, the budget defined and so too the source of funds for the proposal.

If all these are not spelt out, there cannot be a vote.

We must respect that not every subsidiary proprietor wants a new facility, and even when they do, they may not want it under their balcony.

We maintain that the silent majority who are absent at AGMs are a happy, consenting lot.

We appreciate those who do attend and stand for election and also those who express their satisfaction. Otherwise, our condominiums would not be managed that well if council members and managing agents are changed every year as the Act allows.

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