Condo owner seeks court review after tribunal orders door repaint

KUALA LUMPUR, 20 AUGUST 2026 —

Chandran KP Nair, 71, has filed for a judicial review to overturn a tribunal order that he repaint his front door and remove artwork he installed outside his Bangsar condominium unit.

In documents filed through Messrs V L Decruz & Co, Chandran argues he received verbal approval from a committee member in September 2024 before painting the door. He claims Araville’s management corporation (MC) never sent a formal warning letter at the time and has not pursued other residents who made similar changes.

“Other owners have painted their main doors and installed artwork and security gates without any action,” he wrote in an affidavit. “The MC’s selective enforcement targets me because I previously chaired the 2024/2025 committee and questioned the treasurer’s term.” He resigned on March 16, 2025, citing dissatisfaction with administrative handling.

Chandran alleges the MC sent two warning emails—dated Sept 20 and Oct 10, 2025—demanding he restore the original door colour. On Dec 18, 2025, the MC lodged a claim at the Strata Management Tribunal after he did not comply. During the hearing, the tribunal president asked the MC to produce warning letters issued to other owners but the MC could not, he said.

The tribunal ruled on July 8, 2026 that Chandran must repaint the door and remove the artwork within 30 days. He contends the decision suffered from “serious irregularities, errors of law and procedural impropriety” and that the MC was improperly represented by a property management staff member rather than a committee member.

He is asking the High Court to stay the tribunal’s award, grant leave for the judicial review, quash the tribunal’s decision, and award costs. The AGC told the deputy registrar it had no objection to the judicial review save for the stay application, which it wants heard inter partes. The MC is represented by Messrs Siva, Thurai, Marinay & Co. The case is set before Judge Azizan Arshad on Sept 9.