OWNERS of abandoned properties here have seven days to clean up after receiving a notice from the Seremban City Council (MBS) or face court action, says Negri Sembilan local government committee chairman J. Arul Kumar.

Arul Kumar, who also holds the housing and transport portfolios, said MBS has issued 453 notices so far, and 19 owners have already been hauled to court.

"Overall, 306 owners have ignored the notices to clean up their premises.

"So, like the 19 already taken to court, the remaining ones may also face legal action," he said, adding that 147 owners have complied with the notices.

Arul Kumar said MBS has decided to take stern action as some of the properties have been abandoned for decades.

Apart from being an eyesore, they also posed other hazards. For example, he said, some have become termite-infested and the damage has spread to neighbouring properties.

Many also posed health and safety risks, having become hangouts for criminals or lairs for snakes and pests.

"When you do not clean up, you are being unfair to others.

"So, we have no other option but to act," he said after visiting several abandoned units at Lorong Java near here on Monday (July 140.

Arul Kumar said those who fail to comply can be charged under Section 82 of the Local Government Act 1976 for causing a nuisance.

He said some owners had refused to clean up as they know the authorities cannot seize their properties.

"They have been diligently paying their quit rent because they know if they don’t, we can seize their property.

"But these same owners have refused to pay assessment, which has now accumulated into millions of ringgit, because they know the authorities cannot seize the properties even if they default," he said.

Arul said MBS may also consider cleaning up some of the properties and billing the owners for the work.

"Apart from the court action, the MBS may consider this option.

"We have to do this to send a message that we are not taking this lightly anymore," he said, adding that the authorities also faced a challenge in tracing some of the owners.

Arul said owners of new properties have also been issued with notices as they, too, have left their properties unattended.

"We have cases where the owners have yet to move in but failed to maintain their units.

"Action will also be taken against them if they fail to comply," he added.