By Veena Babulal
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2pllo/Article/art_print
Tenants of PJ Palms Sports Complex claim they are unhappy with the rent hike
PETALING JAYA: Joe's Unisex Salon and Waikiki Bar and Restaurant which have been around since the heyday of the former Kelab Syabas in Jalan Sultan here are facing an uncertain future.
M. Inthirarasa and Tony Siew, proprietors of the salon and restaurant, respectively, claimed that they were being pressured by the management of PJ Palms Sports Complex which took over the dilapidated Kelab Syabas to sign a new agreement and consent to a rent hike or leave the premises.
Inthirarasa pays RM500 for his salon while Siew pays RM5,000 for the bar. With the new rates they must pay RM1,700 and RM18,900, respectively.
A document uncovered by Gasing state assemblyman Edward Lee showed an agreement between the Petaling Jaya City Council and the management of the PJ Palms, Sepang Mekar Sdn Bhd.
It revealed that the complex building was leased out to PJ Palms for 11 sen per sq feet.
The agreement on May 21 was signed by a councillor and the mayor.
The tenants claimed that the hike which has been in effect since March did not include utility bills and that they were made to pay electricity bills above commercial rates.
Inthirarasa has faced electricity supply cuts a couple of times since February while Siew faced a bigger predicament of having his bar sealed with a padlock by the management last week.
"I had to remove the padlock and protect myself with a police report. There was no warning or notice.
"They also cut my electricity supply even though I paid my last two bills which had jumped from RM3,500 to RM5,000," he said adding that last month's invoice from the management had yet to arrive.
"Since the council owns the place, I would like to pay the council the rent directly instead of them hiring a second and third party.
"I don't want to be forced out of this place which I've been operating my business in for the past 15 years," he said echoing Inthirarasa's sentiments.
Inthirarasa, who has been operating his business over the past 20 years, said that his electricity rates had also doubled from RM300 to RM600.
He also said that his electricity was usually cut on Sundays when he had a lot of customers.
He has now paid up the three months' arrears but claims his electricity supply is still cut occasionally.
"How can they cut off my power supply when I have not even received the month's bill," he asked.
Lee, who held a press conference on the matter yesterday, said that he had raised the issue at the state's weekly economic action committee meeting.
He also said the Menteri Besar would deliberate on the matter.
He also quoted clause 9.16 in a deed of assignment between the council and Sepang Mekar Sdn Bhd which states that tenants should not sign, transfer outlets and facilities in and around the facility without prior consent of the landlord which is the Petaling Jaya City Council.
"Based on this, the tenants should not be made to face these issues," said Lee.
He also said he had raised the matter with Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman who said that he would look into the matter.
It was earlier reported that Seelan Chelliah of PJ Palms had contacted Inthirarasa to reduce his rent.
They also claimed to have reduced his rent by about 30 per cent to be fair to him as his lot faces the street as opposed to the shop lots that face the pool.
However, Inthirarasa claimed that he was only given a discount of RM1.
M. Inthirarasa and Tony Siew, proprietors of the salon and restaurant, respectively, claimed that they were being pressured by the management of PJ Palms Sports Complex which took over the dilapidated Kelab Syabas to sign a new agreement and consent to a rent hike or leave the premises.
Inthirarasa pays RM500 for his salon while Siew pays RM5,000 for the bar. With the new rates they must pay RM1,700 and RM18,900, respectively.
A document uncovered by Gasing state assemblyman Edward Lee showed an agreement between the Petaling Jaya City Council and the management of the PJ Palms, Sepang Mekar Sdn Bhd.
It revealed that the complex building was leased out to PJ Palms for 11 sen per sq feet.
The agreement on May 21 was signed by a councillor and the mayor.
The tenants claimed that the hike which has been in effect since March did not include utility bills and that they were made to pay electricity bills above commercial rates.
Inthirarasa has faced electricity supply cuts a couple of times since February while Siew faced a bigger predicament of having his bar sealed with a padlock by the management last week.
"I had to remove the padlock and protect myself with a police report. There was no warning or notice.
"They also cut my electricity supply even though I paid my last two bills which had jumped from RM3,500 to RM5,000," he said adding that last month's invoice from the management had yet to arrive.
"Since the council owns the place, I would like to pay the council the rent directly instead of them hiring a second and third party.
"I don't want to be forced out of this place which I've been operating my business in for the past 15 years," he said echoing Inthirarasa's sentiments.
Inthirarasa, who has been operating his business over the past 20 years, said that his electricity rates had also doubled from RM300 to RM600.
He also said that his electricity was usually cut on Sundays when he had a lot of customers.
He has now paid up the three months' arrears but claims his electricity supply is still cut occasionally.
"How can they cut off my power supply when I have not even received the month's bill," he asked.
Lee, who held a press conference on the matter yesterday, said that he had raised the issue at the state's weekly economic action committee meeting.
He also said the Menteri Besar would deliberate on the matter.
He also quoted clause 9.16 in a deed of assignment between the council and Sepang Mekar Sdn Bhd which states that tenants should not sign, transfer outlets and facilities in and around the facility without prior consent of the landlord which is the Petaling Jaya City Council.
"Based on this, the tenants should not be made to face these issues," said Lee.
He also said he had raised the matter with Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman who said that he would look into the matter.
It was earlier reported that Seelan Chelliah of PJ Palms had contacted Inthirarasa to reduce his rent.
They also claimed to have reduced his rent by about 30 per cent to be fair to him as his lot faces the street as opposed to the shop lots that face the pool.
However, Inthirarasa claimed that he was only given a discount of RM1.
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