Beyond the Bricks with Christine Quek

08/09/2024

Commissioner Of Buildings (COB) In Malaysia, And Their 6 Main Functions

Have you heard of the Commissioner of Buildings (COB)? Maybe it’s whispered about in your apartment complex at night — "be sure to pay your maintenance fees, or the Commissioner of Buildings will get you".
Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as that! The COB is actually a valuable part of effective facility management, and that’s particularly important when you live in a large stratified property.
So, let’s dispel the myths and get down to the truth. Here’s everything you need to know about the Commissioner of Building in Malaysia, and why that’s important to you as a property owner.

Understanding The Commissioner Of Buildings

The Commissioner of Buildings is essentially an enforcement officer designed to police the rules and regulations of the Strata Management Act 2013 (SMA). This Act is the framework of regulation, which ensures stratified properties are managed and maintained in an effective and fair manner.

It’s the set of rules that lays out the rights and obligations of every single stratified property owner in Malaysia, as well as other relevant parties, such as management bodies and developers. It includes essential elements of stratified property ownership, such as the rules and limits around maintenance fees and sinking funds.

A COB will only ever be appointed to oversee stratified properties such as apartments, condos, or flats, so you don’t have to worry about someone turning up at your bungalow looking to enforce any rules!

Stratified properties are those where owners possess a strata title to individual property units as part of a larger shared development, and some less common property types like townhouses.

In addition, the Commissioner of Buildings is empowered by a local council authority within a given state. So, for example: the Commissioner of Buildings Selangor will have separate agents appointed by, and responsible for, municipal councils from Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Kajang, and so on.

The COB is empowered to investigate and adjudicate on breaches of the SMA, providing a neutral third-party that ensures all rules are fairly applied to everyone involved. Basically, they’re kind of like the sheriff of building management.

A Commissioner of Buildings’ role isn’t just about punishing people though. It’s designed to ensure proper management and upkeep of stratified property is maintained for the benefit of all.

What Does The Commissioner Of Buildings Do?

Like we’ve highlighted above, the Commissioner of Buildings enforces the rules laid out in the Strata Management Act 2013. But what does that really cover?

It’s not just maintenance fees and sinking funds like you might think. There are six main functions of the Department of Building Commissioner, as noted by the Klang COB:

1- Conducting inventory on buildings within the relevant local area.
2- Ensure the establishment of a Joint Management Body (JMB) for development involving stratified planning.
3- Resolving any dispute between the developer and the purchaser relating to the establishment of the JMB and account maintenance.
4- Monitor the action of a developer in addressing repair defects.
5- Enforce the law stipulated in the Strata Management Act (Act 757) 2013 and the Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757).
6- Provide periodic learning about administrative management, audited accounts, financial provisions and other various topics related to the management of JMB/MC.

That list of duties covers a whole range of property management obligations, from accounts right through to education and support for the Joint Management Body (JMB) or Management Corporation (MC).

(Source : PropertyGuru)

03/02/2024

🏡 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀: 𝗔 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 🌟

Managing tenants has always been a challenge for landlords, and I’m no exception! Have you ever considered alternative options? Let me share my recent experience.

After 14 years of long-term rentals and the headaches that come with it – high turnover, damages, disappearing tenants – I decided to explore a new path. Cue the Airbnb operator! 💼✨

The 70/30 profit-sharing option caught my eye. They handle utilities and property management, making the landlord life much smoother.

🔑 If you’ve faced similar challenges, maybe it’s time to consider a change. Share your thoughts! Would you explore this option too? 👇

09/03/2022

Malaysia enter endemic phase from 1 April.

KUALA LUMPUR (March 8): Malaysia will enter the “Transition to Endemic” phase of Covid-19 on April 1, with all restrictions on business operating hours removed and prayer activities allowed without physical distancing.

14/02/2022

You are welcomed to join this upcoming talk.

📢Home Buyer & Investors
Join our up coming event.

Find out the following during the event

📌Property Market Outlook and Strategy for 2022
📌Feng Shui for Investor and Home Buyer
📌KLCC Property market Analysis
📌Property Investment Tips

Special door gifts limited to the first 10pax that register with us

Use Waze to drive to MARQ CLUB:
https://waze.com/ul/hw28613s93

30/10/2021

We are more interested in real estate sector, what about you?

30/10/2021

𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄? This question has been the popular question recently, of course it’s depend on the circumstances of an individual’s financial status, we always say that anytime is the best time whenever you are ready. And for those who are ready, NOW is the good time to take the opportunity to go with the flow….

PETALING JAYA: The overall value in the residential sub-sector in Malaysia is likely to remain soft throughout 2021 and pricing for prime housing, in ...

13/08/2021

𝗠𝗠2𝗛 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿.

PUTRAJAYA (Aug 11): The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme will be reactivated with improvements to policies and application conditions to balance the security and economic aspects.

Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said new applications for the programme will be processed and managed by the Immigration Department beginning October after all legal processes are completed.

According to him, the Cabinet agreed on July 14 and 30 to the suggested improvements to new MM2H policies as a strategy to assist in the implementation of the National Recovery Plan to regenerate the country's economy.

"The MM2H application procedures will also be improved by creating an online system for the application, processing and maintaining the profile database of MM2H participants," he said in a media conference here today. Also present was Immigration director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan said among the improvements to the MM2H programme is the setting of a ceiling on the number of participants, namely the principals and dependants, at any one time, with not more than 1% of the total Malaysian population.

"Only qualified applicants with no criminal records will be allowed to be part of the programme," he said, adding that the government understands Malaysians' concerns about the entry of foreigners through the MM2H programme.

He said applicants must reside in Malaysia for a cumulative of at least 90 days in a year to ensure they really spend and contribute to the country's economy, in the form of property rentals or purchases, healthcare services, insurance, education, food and drinks as well as domestic tourism.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan said participants must have an offshore income of at least RM40,000 a month compared with RM10,000 previously.

"The new income conditions are more relevant as the government is targeting high-income participants with adequate capabilities. We also consider the expenses spent on children's education in international schools for instance, and a suitable lifestyle matching their living standards," he said.

He said applicants need to have a fixed savings account of RM1 million, compared with previous conditions of at least RM150,000 for applicants above 50 years old and RM300,000 for those 50 years old and below.

Participants also need to make an asset declaration and prove that they own liquid assets of at least RM1.5 million compared with previous conditions that set the value of liquid assets at RM350,000 and RM500,000 according to respective categories, he added.

He said the MM2H programme is now divided into two categories — those between 35 and 49 years old and those who are 50 years old and above.

"The 35- to 49-year-old category was introduced to select participants of real quality who are more stable income-wise and have careers," he said, adding that it is due to changing trends and the spillover effects of programmes similar to MM2H in neighbouring countries, such as Thailand and the Philippines.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan said the duration of the MM2H programme long-term social visit pass is now set to five years and can be extended for another five and so on as long as participants are subject to the compliance of the application conditions, compared with 10 years previously.

He said the rate of the pass fee is increased to RM500 a year from RM90 previously, while a RM5,000 processing fee will be charged for the principal and RM2,500 for each dependant.

"Previously, no processing fee was charged. The processing fee is aimed at increasing the quality of service offered to MM2H participants," he said.

For renewal of passes, change of principals, change in nationality, participants, and dependants must undergo and pass security vetting, and submit a Letter of Good Conduct for participants and dependants, he added.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan said the implementation of new MM2H policies applies to all new applications and applications of extension for existing participants whose MM2H passes have ended or will end.

"This means existing participants, if they are still keen on joining the programme, can seek extensions subject to the new conditions.

"A grace period of a year will be given so that participants can fulfil the new requirements," he said.

The MM2H programme, introduced in 2002, allows foreigners to purchase property and reside in Malaysia on a long-term basis. It was temporarily frozen in August 2020 to enable the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to study and review the programme comprehensively.

According to him, the MM2H programme managed to stimulate the country's economy with a cumulative gross value added income of RM11.89 billion from 2002 to 2019 through visa fees, property purchases, personal vehicle purchases, fixed deposits, and monthly household expenditure.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan said the current total of MM2H participants who have been approved is 57,478 people, including dependants of MM2H pass holders.

He stressed that the MM2H programme and entry of participants in Malaysia are still subject to the health policies and standard operating procedures set by the National Security Council and risk assessments by the Health Ministry.

When asked if applicants from countries currently banned from entering Malaysia due to high Covid-19 positive cases will be approved, Wan Ahmad Dahlan said the ban is still in effect.

On Sept 7, Malaysia banned entry from 23 countries for having more than 150,000 Covid-19 positive cases.

The countries are the United States, Brazil, India, Russia, Peru, Colombia, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iran, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Iraq, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 : 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵.𝘤𝘰𝘮

22/07/2021

Following the prolonged covid-19 pandemic, the government on 28 June 2021 announced a new assistance package, the PEMULIH People's Protection and Economic Recovery Package . Among them is the EPF withdrawal known as i-Citra

Applications can also be made online through the official portal to make withdrawals such as the link shared below starting July 12, 2021. Withdrawal rates and payment methods will also be stated further. The First Payment is expected to be credited to members' accounts in August 2021

Production Rate
⚽ Maximum RM5,000
⚽ *Subject to the total balance of both Account 1 & Account 2
⚽ Will be paid for a period of up to 5 months
⚽ With a monthly payment of RM1,000 per month or subject to the total savings balance
⚽ The minimum payment is RM50
⚽ Need to leave a balance of at least RM100 in Account 1

The amount of withdrawal eligibility is according to the member's savings amount on the date the application is processed after deducting the next i-Sinar payment (if any)

Eligibility requirements
💡 EPF members aged 55 and below include non -citizens and permanent residents
💡 Have a minimum savings of at least RM150 in the EPF Account on the date of application
💡 Members who have applied for i-Lestari and i-Sinar are eligible to apply but subject to eligibility conditions 1 & 2 as above
💡 Members of the Public Service. *Likely to face the risk of using government shares that need to be returned to the government later

Date of Application
Opened: Starting July 15, 2021 Launched from 12 July 2021
Closed: September 30, 2021

Source : https://www.mysumber.com/i-citra.html

14/07/2021

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗯𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟲-𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘂𝗺

To opt in, contact your bank from 7 July 2021 onwards.
💠 Visit your bank's website to find out how to apply via web form, email, or phone call.
💠 Fill in your personal and financing details.
💠 Tick the boxes on the terms of the repayment assistance.
💠 Your bank will process your application within 5 calendar days (for individuals) or 14 calendar days (for microenterprises and SMEs).
If you face difficulties with your bank, or have not received any response from your banks within the timeframe, you may contact BNMTELELINK or fill up bnm.my/RAsurvey to lodge a complaint.