Attempts fail to disrupt buyers' meeting

Rhythm Avenue #3: Two groups of purported buyers - who can't show their S&P agreements and IC - try but fail to stop buyers' meeting. Tight security deployed, on-scene photographs sent to Special Branch for identification...
Posted on 10.46am Apr 28, 2002

The 'Rhythm Avenue'
Series #3:

By usjXpress Team
Email: edteam@usj.com.my


SUBANG JAYA, April 27: Two groups of people, who called themselves Rhythm Avenue purchasers, tried to disrupt a buyers' meeting in Subang Jaya April 27.

They started to cause a commotion when they failed to comply with the organisers' authentication process requiring them to submit their sales and purchase (S&P) agreement, photocopy of their ICs, and a cheque for RM500.

The meeting organisers, the Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam (CASSA), have laid down the three conditions to verify the bona fide buyers.

Only genuine buyers who passed the verification process were issued CASSA stickers to attend the closed door meeting.

The buyers were also allowed to collect their S&P agreement, photocopy of IC and the cheque at the end of the meeting.

However, the usjXpress Team was told that all but two buyers have decided to appoint CASSA as their representative to negotiate for a full refund plus interests for the 95% progress payment made to the developer, Sanjung Utama Sdn Bhd.

At the closed door meeting, the buyers had overwhelmingly voted for a full refund as they have lost confidence in the developer's ability to complete the project in the near future (Story to be updated soon).

April 23, both USJ.com.my and Malaysiakini reported that Sanjung Utama Sdn Bhd, the developer for Rhythm Avenue service apartments in USJ19, has been given seven days to make full refund to a group of purchasers.

The ultimatum was issued by Dr Jacob George, president and legal adviser for Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam (CASSA) at a press conference here April 23.

George said his consumer association has obtained the mandate from the buyers to proceed with the next course of action.

However, he declined to disclose his strategies, citing "my strategy is not to disclose my strategies".


POLITICIANS

George told usjXpress Team that the CASSA-sponsored meeting was closely watched by the beneficiaries of the Rhythm Avenue project.

He said the buyers' meeting was by invitation, extended exclusively to those who have registered via the association's hotline at 012-366 4444 over the week.

"We have registered over 300 buyers, some of them are investors for both the apartments and commercial units," George said.

"The meeting today is to group the buyers together and brief them on their rights and liabilities in the issue," he said.

"We then discuss the options available, and try to find a common action plan to protect their interests," he added.

"But friendly parties have informed us that certain politicians are asking the buyers not to attend our meeting for reasons we do not know at this point in time," he said.

"We were also tipped off to look out for 'machai' (runners) sent by certain parties to disrupt the meeting," George added.

"That's why we have taken the precaution to verify the bona fide buyers and deploy tight security measures to prevent any untoward incidents from happening," he added.


COMMOTION

The two groups of supposed buyers looked detached but they obviously well-timed themselves to start a commotion concurrently.

Before registration for the meeting started at 2.00pm, a Chinese man in his 50's was seen making his rounds on a motorcycle near the premises.

He teamed up with three other people when a big crowd was gathering at the registration counter.

Another group, smartly dressed as a husband-and-wife team, refused to show their S&P agreement and IC, and insisted to pay by credit card.

He spoke in a loud voice, assisted by his female companion, challenging the organisers to be "flexible with their administration".

The other group sprang into action almost immediately.

Two of them, led by a pony-tailed Chinese in his 40s, tried to drum up a ruckus, while the other two tried to sneak into the meeting room via the back door.

However, they were stopped by security personnel stationed at the entrance to the meeting room as they did not have CASSA stickers.

The group-of-four then gathered again at the lobby, continuing their agitation in raised voice.

They were heard questioning the organisers' intention of collecting money to sue the developer for bankruptcy.

The pony-tailed Chinese also insistently queried CASSA personnel manning the registration counters on the association's next course of actions.

However, they abruptly left the scene when George announced the presence of the Special Branch officers.

George said he would send photographs of these people to the police for identification purposes.

The meeting was later convened without any further incidents.

About 150 people turned up for the meeting, with a vast majority being Chinese.

However, some 30 people were turned away as they could not produce their S&P agreement and photocopy of their ICs.


Related Reports:
Papers identify causes for cracks in USJ19 houses
Malaysiakini: Consumers group wants errant developer to return money
China Press: Rhythm Avenue buyers demand full refund

Rhythm Avenue Series:
#1: RM 100m (95% progress payment) collected, but...
#2: Hwa Beng's moves now being watched
#4: Overwhelming mandate for full refund

Watch out for the expose!
#5: Web of mysteries surrounding Sanjung Utama


Related thread at Web Forum
Rhythm Avenue: Developer given 7 days to refund purchasers

Related Topics
Rehabilitation plan for Subang Mewah project
Subang Mewah (USJ1) to be upgraded
Hwa Beng: "Chee Wen needs more money from public"
Joe Singh claims trial over death threat
Chee Wen is coming up
No enforcement, no traffic rules.