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Speech by Dato Hj Zainuddin Hj Bachik, Chairman of House
Buyers Association, at Home Ownership campaign and exhibition organized
by MESSE on 27.7.2001 at Putra World Trade Centre.
The House Buyers Association welcomes the Home Ownership promotional
campaigns initiated by PAID 2001. This campaign like the previous ones
in the past, is held to boost up sales and also to spur up the taking of
oversupply of houses/apartments and commercial properties by purchasers
as a result of properties overhang in the market.
House sales campaigns by the developers should only be held if there
are additional offers to be given out in the forms of price discounts
and increase maximum loan amounts by the banks or financial institutions
to meet their loan targets as directed in order to revitalize the
slowing down domestic economy.
However, in spite of several incentives given by the government such
as exemption of stamp duties for property transactions and other
incentives under the FIC guidelines. the House Buyers Association noted
that similar previous campaigns held did not receive overwhelming
response from purchasers. This lukewarm response were attributed to many
factors.
Housebuyers, today, are more cautious and becoming more aware of
their rights. They would rather buy houses from developers with proven
good track records who could deliver quality houses and give absolutely
no hassle in their dealing with the purchasers.
Housebuyers have become much wiser and choosey in the determination
to buy houses that meet their choice and from developers that can be
trusted. It would not be surprised that one day in the near future house
buyers might reject or boycott the purchase of houses that did not
measure up to their expectations and not commensurate with costs of
houses from certain developers.
House Buyers Association would urge developers to be more sensitive
tot he grouses of house buyers and to execute a fair and equitable
dealing with them, as ultimately the choice of buying a house rests
absolutely on the prerogative of the buyers.
Profits alone should not be the developer's yardstick and primary
objectives. They should also look upon their venture into business of
building public housing as a social obligation to the people and
country. They ought to manifest a desire to make the housing industry in
this country that the nation can be proud of and equivalent to the best
in this region.
The complaints against developers, committing underhand tactics,
unfair treatment to house buyers and ignoring their responsibilities are
not new. There were innumerable reports from all over the country of
house buyers facing problems from errant developers as early as 1991, if
not earlier.
We might tend to question why it has taken so long for the
authorities to take remedial action to address the problems while in the
bud? The house buyers problems have escalated over time, causing them
much miseries. It is not too late to mend the situation if immediate
action is taken by the authorities to restore the people's confidence.
The House Buyers Association is strongly of the view that no justice
will ever prevail to the people's plight and predicament unless an
appropriate and rigid law is enabled and strictly enforced providing for
the protection of house buyers' rights. There should be no time to waste
giving unrelated excuses to this episode.
Lastly, I would like to thank MESSE and Mr Elson Moey for inviting us
to this function. |
