The public and developers have been urged to seek out professional architects who undertake their duties proficiently.

The Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) northern chapter made this call in response to a report in The Star yesterday that a police report was lodged by a group of purchasers of Majestic Heights project units against two architects for alleged malpractice.

"We acknowledge that in any profession, there are black sheep.

"The engagement of building surveyors will not guarantee that the problem will be weeded out but may further complicate matters," PAM said in a statement.

The aggrieved house buyers had earlier called for end-financiers to engage building surveyors to conduct site inspections with bank officers prior to disbursing loans to developers.

The purchasers also called for a review of the Architects Act 1967 by increasing the penalty for malpractices by an architect to a maximum fine of RM200,000 from the present RM5,000.

They also called for errant architects to be deregistered with the Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM) and be suspended from practice for life together with a minimum jail term of five years.

PAM said there were ample avenues in the present Act for penalties to be imposed, adding there was already a provision for suspension for a maximum of one year or deregistration of the architect apart from the maximum fine of RM5,000.

Architect Dennis Liew however said a harsher penalty for errant architects was necessary as the present penalty was not severe enough to deter unscrupulous practices.

Liew, who is PAM (northern chapter) past chairman, opined that a harsher penalty was needed to separate the good architects from the bad.

Another architect who declined to be named said architects should not be made the scapegoats. He added that politicians who wielded their influence to get complicated projects approved, and developers who used arm-twisting tactics to pressure architects should also share the blame.

Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Penang chairman Datuk Ong Gim Huat said architects should not blame developers for pressuring them into issuing certificates fraudulently.

"Although their fees are paid by developers, architects should not go under the instruction of developers or they (the architects) would be selling their souls.

"They should uphold their professional integrity and report such cases (of intimidation) to the police," he said adding that it was also the association's wish to eradicate errant practices by developers.

Citing an example, he said doctors could not blame patients for asking for illegal drugs, and likewise, architects should act independently and not blame developers for pressuring them.