Taman Kendara Apartment Phase 1 residents here can now heave a sigh of relief as the subsidiary title issue that plagued them for 30 years has a good chance of being resolved.

Penampang MCA Division Chief Datuk Francis Goh said apart from the subsidiary title there were several matters which contributed to the problem faced by the residents there.

"After a study conducted by my team from the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHAREDA), we found that the apartment developers, before they went bankrupt, had not paid any land premiums which had now accrued to RM450,000.

"In addition, some RM150,000 to RM200,000 is needed to appoint a qualified surveyor to re-survey the 288 apartment units there" Francis said at the Kapayan 2017 Angpow Festival at Taman Kendara Phase 1 on Wednesday night.

However, he said, the land premium was not a problem as he had announced through SHAREDA last year that a sum of RM600,000 would be made available to help pay the arrears.

To launch the process, Francis said he wanted the full cooperation of Taman Kendara Phase 1 residents to form a new committee with literate occupants as its members.

"I suggest residents here volunteer to participate in this committee. Once established, I will personally bring the committee members to meet with the Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor for endorsement of the committee.

"After that, the committee should go to the local authorities to retrieve Taman Kendara Phase 1 draft plan which was approved 30 years ago. This plan is important to avoid having to resurvey the apartment building.

"This committee also needs to go to the Insolvency Department to make a clarification that it has authority in all matters related to the apartment and not the developers who had gone bankrupt" he said.

Francis, who is also Sabah MCA liaison deputy chairman, said he would also assist to get the committee moving smoothly.

In the meantime, he urged occupants to voluntarily pay a management fee to the apartment's existing committee. "I propose the occupants pay a RM50 monthly fee to be used for the improvement of the apartment's environment, particularly its cleanliness and safety.

"Residents should not worry about the fee paid by the committee will be monitored by the authorities every year to ensure there are no irregularities" he said.

Francis also assured that the issue about the issuance of the subsidiary title could be resolved as he had helped solve a similar case in Taman Sri Kepayan within three months.