KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — A survey by the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry revealed that more than half of condominiums and apartments nationwide ranked below par in an evaluation of property management standards.

In a report by the Sunday Star, the survey found that 69 per cent of those surveyed scored only one and two stars in 2015, a decline from 2014 where 65 per cent of these properties were ranked below par.

Furthermore, only one per cent, or approximately 74 out of 7,325 high-rise residential properties in Peninsular Malaysia earned the top five-star ranking.

"For now, about 70 per cent of residents are at a level where they are merely aware of what needs to be done in managing their property.

"They are not yet at a level to appreciate the benefits of cooperating with each other and creating a better living culture,” said Mohammad Ridzwan Abidin, the ministry’s urban service division under-secretary.

Ridzwan reportedly said one major problem was that some residents in condominiums are refusing to pay maintenance fees.

Other problems included building defects and matters involving enforcement.

The survey is part of the ministry’s yearly Strata Scheme Management Quality Evaluation, or "Star Rating”, which ranks the standards of joint management bodies or management corporations of apartments and condominiums. These bodies are ranked based on how they do in seven areas: collection of funds, security, risk management, maintenance, administration, community support and compliance with the law.

According to the ministry official, most six million Malaysians out of 20 million city folk are currently living in stratified buildings like apartments and condominiums, but the number is expected to rise in future from urbanisation.

Mohamad Ridzwan said he believes there is a need to change the mindset of people to foster more civic-minded communities in high-rise buildings.

"Future generations will likely live in stratified buildings, so people should try to set a proper precedent for them,” he stressed.