Published: Friday January 9, 2015 MYT 10:17:00 AM
Updated: Friday January 9, 2015 MYT 3:15:03 PM
Updated: Friday January 9, 2015 MYT 3:15:03 PM
Residents Association: Cheras autism centre set up without approval
PETALING JAYA: The Autism Consultancy early intervention centre was set up in Cheras Vista without the prior approval of the Residents Association (RA), said its vice-president Alfred Chen.
"The centre was set up without any official approval from the resident's association, and we were presented with documentation seeking approval from the resident's association on Monday.
"There was no proper communication between the landlord, the centre and resident's association," said Chen.
Chen, who spoke to The Star Online on Thursday also refuted claims by the centre's landlord that a tenancy agreement presented at a Monday night meeting had the RA committee’s approval for the place to be run as an early intervention centre.
He added that residents of the gated community only found out that there was a centre in the community when the bunting went up last Saturday.
"The committee did not receive any notification until last Saturday when they held their open day, and some of the cars of the parents blocked our resident's gates.
"Only then did we know that there was a centre there when the banner and bunting went up," said Chen.
He said the association was upset with the centre's founder and programme supervisor Charlene Marie Samuel for her Facebook post over the misunderstanding between Autism Consultancy and RA.
"We as the resident's association reserve our right to take any legal action against Charlene and the centre for simply making accusations on social media," said Chen.
He explained why the residents had voted against having the centre in their Cheras Vista community.
"The location they chose is not suitable. Our gated community is only for residential purposes, our houses are not to be used commercially, for kindergartens and other purposes," he said.
Chen added that if such a centre was in the community, people from outside the residential area could come in and out easily.
"With this, we are worried that the peace and safety we enjoyed for the last three years, will be threatened. If thefts and assaults happen, who will be responsible?" said Chen.
When contacted, landlord Cheng Mei Lan claimed she received verbal consent of the RA to rent out her place to an operator of a childcare centre that would only be taking care of three to four children.
"That was my impression until I prepared the tenancy agreement.
"I then found a sub-contract written by Autism Consultancy indicating that they were taking in up to 20 children, and that the children were autistic.
"I do not have any problem with renting out the property to a centre for autistic children," said Cheng.
Cheng added that she did not seek the approval from neighbouring residents because she thought she already had the consent of the RA to rent her property out to a childcare centre.
It was reported that Samuel was forced to move out of her newly opened autism centre barely five days after opening her doors to the public following a meeting with the chairman and vice-chairman of the gated community.
Samuel said that as residents had made their opinion clear, the early intervention centre would be moving out of the premise because as she did not want to put her clients or therapists in a difficult position.
"I gave them my word that if we are not wanted in the community - we will leave.
"We will be packing up and finding a new space where we are accepted in the new community. We have to respect the wishes of the community," she added.
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