"Inconvenient Truth"

Yes.... the title sounds more like a cliche but I believe it is very appropriate to describe what I am experiencing as a resident in Taman Mutiara Puchong.
I am pretty sure over the last couple weeks since being "Earth Day" and all with the actual screening of "Inconvenient Truth" narrated and presented by Al Gore creating awareness about Global Warming issues and how the world leaders needs to stop making excuses and to do something immediately before earth meets with its very own "Armageddon" caused by blatant mismanagement and neglect of mother nature's resources, many would have watched and understood the severity of the current situation if something is not done, SOON!
So what has it got to do with me or you? In a nutshell it has got to do with "Attitude" not only of the world's leaders but indirectly also for a common denominator of human beings being full of "EXCUSES" and not being able to have foresight until the situation is so bad that one have to be forced to change.
Sounds familiar? Yes we are all gulity as we could do much more than what we are doing now.....recyle more, use less electricity, water, burn less fuel and etc etc etc.
We need to look at more preventive measures rather than the cure but it is so funny how lessons can only be learnt when damage is done. Greed is the cause of all this until we are all blinded to things that do matter i.e. the environment, peace, security, way of life, people you love, helping others whom are less fortunate (community service), giving back to society etc etc etc ......I am sure you get the point.
I am not ashamed to say that in my younger days (when I did not have any white hair yet on my head) I used to be blinded by material gains hence working like there was going to be no tomorrow until the little things in life that is important were pushed aside again and again, soon I was left to question myself "What is the meaning of life". Yahhhh I know all of the above sounds too philosophical at this point but I have to at least highlight the errors/mistakes so I can at least be an example of what not to do.
Education is always important and with knowledge one is equipped with better tools to deal with life but at times greed will also cause one to have the wrong priorities altogether.
Honestly I could go on and on and on providing ample of evidence to justify the above statement, however I believe we are all not that silly to not understand the message. We can all make a difference by doing something that is positive by giving back to mother nature and to society for a more equilibrium lifestyle instead of being selfish, self centered and greedy. Do not just take but also give in return.
On this note I would just like to make a simple plea to all residents in Taman Mutiara Puchong as well as others to look at where you live as your home albeit if it is gated and guarded or not to understand that for any community to thrive and to prosper it is giving back to it that will make a positive change to our nature and to our culture.
TMP is now governed by a properly registered and mandated RA consisting entirely of "VOLUNTEERS" whom are residents just like you and me. To reiterate what is the purpose of the said RA in TMP? Well I think I do have to repeat once again here to ensure that we are all on the same page and that this message will be spread out to others in TMP and that for those whom have informed that they are oblivious to all the activities in TMP since year 2006.....shocking well it is not, that is why I highlighted that this world is always full of people with "EXCUSES".
The RA's MISSION STATEMENT once again.
We have recently also translated the said Mission Statement in simplified chinese:

我们的目标：
1） 扮演“监视者”的角色来维护我们的未来社区。

2） 以居民利益着想，祈求建立一个团体精神的社区“一把声音，一个社区”。

3） 向所有社区成员灌输分工合作和团队精神的宗旨。

4） 共同分享意见和应用资源来不断改进我们的社区。

5） 以志愿性的心态为珍珠花园提供更优质的生活。

帮助我们等于帮助您自己，立刻伸出您的双手来支持我们。请记得“一把声音，一个社区”。就让我们共同携手把珍珠花园创造成为一个最佳居住的社区。

Taking note of the above plus the setting up of the RA blog since July 2007 with information archive for residents to access containing all the necessary information pertaining the RA's struggle on behalf of all residents in TMP which can be located at: RESIDENTS INFORMATION ARCHIVE we still have residents giving excuses that they did not receive any information and that the current service fee is not justifiable and etc etc etc.
As a resident and making this statement as a resident, I strongly urge these people to look at the information available as stated above and also take note that they are all based on "FACTS" and not mere fiction. The RA's volunteer representative (without pay mind you) have gone through all the trouble to provide all these information for the betterment of all residents selflessly, and yet we have residents giving excuses of this and that they are not paying.
Well we have done the said projection base on past experiences and data available from other gated community and we have already factored all these kind of people whom like to exclude themselves from paying and measures are also currently put in place to make them liable as a defaulter as stated in the DMC. Please refer to DMC CLAUSE EXTRACT ENGLISH and DMC CLAUSE EXTRACT (CHINESE) very clearly stating the responsibilities of both "PURCHASER" which is resident owners like you and I and "VENDOR" in this case the RA of TMP by default because the said original vendor Interpile Sdn Bhd/Malton Bhd at the 11th hour pulled out and decline to be the said property management company of TMP. Look at the said costing proposed by Interpile previously INTERPILE COSTING PAGE 1 and INTERPILE COSTING PAGE 2.
Compare the costing done by the RA after careful consideration of factors involving foresight and looking at the "BIG PICTURE" RA COST PROJECTION which is approximately RM 5,000 less than Interpile Sdn Bhd estimate. Yes they have costed it at RM 80 (based on 504 units) but the RA Costing at RM 100 is base on 400 units as prior to costing the said number we had already been informed by Malton Bhd that they are not going to contribute the said service fees for the unsold units. The RA is awaiting further action to be formulated base on more feedback. We can all expect a delay as firstly the governing property law act contains many ambiguity especially pertaining "GUARDED AND GATED" individual title land parcels as compared to the usual strata title. This has caused much confusion amongst residents but however this should not be used as an "EXCUSE" for not paying the service fee. The service fee is important to ensure TMP have enough funds to properly manage the said originality of the community and to ensure it is always clean and secure well into the future. The objective here is "SUSTAINABILITY" to maintain the entire 70 ACRES of land. Yes we do not have a clubhouse, we do not have a swimming pool and that is why we are paying only RM 100 unlike YTL LakeEdge residents are paying above RM 200. If all residents in TMP pay RM 200 - RM 250 we should be able to have enough after months of collection to build a pool and a clubhouse as well. But to those residents that actually voted to pay RM 50 well I think they do not understand entirely what is the meaning of a properly gated and guarded development and the cost associated with managing such a large property of 70 Acres. I think RM 50 is more suited for a unit in Taman Wawasan as I had heard from the resident association member the amount they are paying, but do take note that they are not a gated and guarded community and not a cul-de-sac like Taman Mutiara Puchong where a guardhouse is maintained and security required 24/7 which is why we have a 24/7 electronic boomgate unlike a manual one elsewhere.
Please also take note that minutes of the AGM are all available as well and downloadable on the top rigt hand corner of this blog.
If you are a resident in TMP and fully support the mission statement of the RA please do your bit to assist in educating the others that we all live in the same community and are responsible to pay for its expenditures which have been duly justified over and over again. Just remember although we do not have a swimming pool or a clubhouse but we have a total of 70 Acres of landscaping and land to look after plus we have to maintain existing infrastructure and must budget for natural disasters like flooding and the decay of the perimeter wall and metal grille (repainting) which will be borne by all of us just to name a few items of expenses in TMP..... I am sure you will be able to think of other expenses we all have to cover in due time. Also take note that currently there are a total of 88 units if houses in TMP being let out i.e. tenanted hence we do advice all landlords to pay their dues timely for the betterment of all in TMP. Yes you may not live here and enjoy the park etc however the actual property you own and the residents you are collecting rent from do reside here and the facilities is enjoyed by them for a return of the rental you are collecting.
For those owners that have a unit here and is not tenanted but empty well you are still bound to pay the said fee as there are no exceptions. A good security and environment in TMP will ensure that you will get maximum returns on your property should you sell it one day, in this case treat the monthly service fee contribution as an investment for a better ROI.
Let us all chip in and help create a better living environment for all of our family members and friends just like the RA motto "ONE VOICE ONE COMMUNITY".