High-end living with low-end amenities

sfk New member

Member since 11 November 2013

sfkNew member25 August 2025 01:24:40

High-end living with low-end amenities.

A police inspector who helped patrol the East-West Highway to keep it safe from insurgents during its construction. A high-ranking official in the local MACC office. Air force and armed forces personnel. A tire shop owner who helps neighbors with minor car problems for free. An architect, several teachers, doctors, businesspeople, retired civil servants. What do they have in common?

We are all residents living within the bounds of Permaipura Golf Club, located 6 kilometers north of Sungai Petani, Kedah. We chose to live here because of the quiet and peaceful green areas. And while it has delivered on that, the same cannot be said for public service delivery to this area.

If you live on a lane with fewer than six occupied houses, you will not be able to get a fixed or land line for telephone service. It costs too much for TM to install. Cell phone service from within Permaipura Golf Club is poor because there are not enough transmission towers in the surrounding area.

If your water filter that filters incoming water from the main is a deep green color due to algae and you request SADA to come test the water quality because you are getting sick from water-borne disease, and you show them the polluted water filter, they will tell you, “We will forward it to our team.” The team never comes, despite more than one report and request. Meanwhile, you have gotten gastritis from H pylori and also a virus infection that causes blisters in your mouth and throat.

If you request MPSPK, the local city council providing public services, via e-Aduan, to come clean the curbside drains fronting occupied property, they will not come if said property is in a lane with only three occupied houses. They would have to pay e-Idaman workers extra to do it and they do not want to.

Profits before people. ‘Nuff said.

cvco Malaysia Expert

Member since 10 June 2014

cvcoMalaysia Expert25 September 2025 13:14:44

1235

Ok. All govt services, including POS Malaysia which is private now, do not work on anyones requests, needs or schedules except their own. IF and WHEN they feel the need for something based on their own surveys, they do whats needed. It might be years or never.

To incoming or existing expats, you see a place as it is and you accept or reject because its all you are going to get, and without any belief you personally can change anything. You like a certain street to live on but there are no street lights which you require, do not move in, move on.

ONE thing changes this. Thats the person who sees a problem and the very next time you see workers in your area, approach them in order to bribe them and they may well accommodate you. Ive done that with phone, net, water, pavement. A little cash works magic.

Aidan in HCMC Vietnam Expert

Member since 23 December 2017

Aidan in HCMCVietnam Expert25 September 2025 15:07:58

4207

High-end living with low-end amenities....We are all residents living within the bounds of Permaipura Golf Club, located 6 kilometers north of Sungai Petani, Kedah. We chose to live here because of the quiet and peaceful green areas. And while it has delivered on that, the same cannot be said for public service delivery to this area... - @sfk

From Google AI...

Living near a golf course can pose risks from incidental pesticide exposure, which has been linked to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, especially for those living within a mile of a course. These pesticides can contaminate the air and groundwater, with potential short- and long-term health effects like neurological diseases, skin and eye irritation, and even cancer.

Additional search results, here.

sfk New member

Member since 11 November 2013

sfkNew member27 September 2025 00:37:42

Thanks for your feedback, especially the health implications of living around a golf course. Re: SADA and contaminated water, I took a different route. I wrote a letter to the local health department, cc'ing SADA HQ in Alor Star and also the local political rep. The SADA people came, took pictures, didn't want to talk to me. A couple of days later, they came again at 10pm. They did something and now the water in my water filter is clear. I still want the health dept to come and test water quality before I start drinking it. We'll see how long that takes.

wyngrove60 Serial expat

Member since 08 May 2021

wyngrove60Serial expat27 September 2025 01:36:16

395

Yes, well, you actually should survey matters like this prior to signing a contract to purchase or rent a place. Maybe the land or property prices were cheaper than other areas. Better to move somewhere else. Maybe that is ok for local Malaysians but I think expats just don't want to have these kinds of hassles.

When I bought properties in Malaysia I spoke with my loans manager, my property lawyer as well as good property agent friends before buying a place. Loans managers and the property surveyors that do evaluations tend to be very honest about the drawbacks of buying in certain places and certain properties, unless they are actually promoting those particular properties.