RM1.34m fines collected from
errant builders between 1993 and 1996 01/04/1997 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - In the three-year period between 1993 and 1996, a total
of RM1.34 million in fines was received from errant housing developers following
complaints from housebuyers. Of the 622 complaints lodged by the public during
this time, 536 had been brought in court, said Housing and Local Government
Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh
Council may take legal action
against developer 01/04/1997 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council will consider taking
legal action against the developer of the Ukay Perdana housing project for
failure to comply with the council's ruling on earthworks. Council president
Abdul Karim Munisar said the decision was reached during the council's meeting
today.
Blacklist errant developers
01/04/1997 NST
I REFER to the article on the cutting of hills and felling of trees (NST,
March 28). It is disappointing to note that housing developers and infrastructure
development companies have blatantly violated the environmental regulations
imposed when approval was given.
Possible legal action
01/04/1997 MM
THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council is considering legal action against the
developer responsible for the indiscriminate clearing of a huge tract of land
in Hulu Klang. Council president Abdul Karim Munisar said their Legal Department
is studying all legal aspects before taking action against Projek Ikatan Rapi
Sdn Bhd, the developer of Ukay Perdana.
DOE taking developer to court
02/04/1997 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. - Projek Ikatan Rapi Sdn Bhd, the developer of Ukay Perdana
housing project in Hulu Klang, will be taken to court for failure to comply
with four Environmental Impact Assessment conditions, including carrying out
construction work on steep slopes. Science, Technology and Environment Minister
Datuk Law Hieng Ding said today the failure by the developer to comply with
the conditions had caused siltation and landslides in the area.
`Small streams seen near collapsed
condominium' 04/04/1997 NST
AMPANG, Thurs. - There was continuous flow of water forming small streams
near the collapsed Block 1 of Highland Towers condominium, the coroner's court
heard today. Assistant Superintendent Nor Azizan Anan, the investigation officer,
said the small streams could be seen at the hill near the Highland Towers
condominium.
Hulu Klang developer to plant
12,000 trees 04/04/1997 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - Following strong condemnation about indiscriminate
hill cutting and tree felling at the Ukay Perdana housing project in Hulu
Klang, the developer today pledged to plant some 12,000 trees in the area
in six months. Projek Ikatan Rapi Sdn Bhd will also propose to give the Selangor
State Government a bank guarantee of RM5 million which will be forfeited if
the developer failed to meet the target.
22 houses from Prangin Mall
list to be struck off 06/04/1997 NSUNT
PENANG, Sat. - At least 22 houses of the 318 reported to have suffered cracks
as a result of work on the Prangin Mall project are likely to be struck off
the list of affected houses. State Executive Councillor Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya
said some had been demolished earlier, some were non-existent, while others
are believed to have sustained cracks as a result of being adjacent to other
development projects.
Pantai project exempted from
submitting EIA 08/04/1997 NST
THE Pantai Hill Orchard Resort project in Pantai near Seremban, which had
come under fire recently, has been exempted from having to submit an Environmental
Impact Assessment report to the Department of Environment. Menteri Besar Tan
Sri Mohamad Isa Abdul Samad said the developer of the project who had been
criticised for the indiscriminate felling of trees need not submit the report
as the size of the project was only 91.91ha.
Spare the hills from development
09/04/1997 NST
RECENT news reports on the extensive felling of trees at the hills of Ampang
and Hulu Klang, both in Selangor, were quite disturbing. I was shocked that
it took Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad to say something about
the land clearing before we saw action by the authorities. The clearing of
the land has been going on for some time.
Mehara Holding under investigation
by the ROC 10/04/1997 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - Watch out for Mehara Holding (M) Bhd, a housing-cum-
investment scheme company soliciting investments which the Registrar of Companies
is now probing. Warning investors to stay away from Mehara Holding, registrar
Ramly Ali said he had received reports that the company's operations may have
contravened the Housing Developers Act and the Companies Act.
Protect environment from developers
10/04/1997 NST
IT is said that everytime Datuk Sari Dr Mahathir Mohamad sneezes, lesser politicians
and bureaucrats are galvanised into action, all echoing with similar refrain
what should have been obvious if only they had done something about it much
earlier. So said a politician recently, perhaps with tongue in cheek.
Public urged to be aware of
a firm collecting money 10/04/1997 BT
THE Registrar of Companies (ROC) has advised the public to be aware of a company
collecting money allegedly as a house booking deposit without having the necessary
licences and authorisation. In confirming that complaints have been lodged,
Ramly Ali said that investigations are currently being carried out. "Since
it is not settled yet, the public should show restraint," said Ramly yesterday.
He added that officials of the company, Mehara Holding (M) Bhd, have been
contacted at its premises, located in Kuala Lumpur and also at its branch
offices in Johor Baru, Tangkak and in Malacca.
Storm havoc affects 34 families
11/04/1997 NST
JOHOR BARU, Thurs. - Thirty-four families from Taman Timur in Skudai had a
terrifying experience today when a storm ripped television antennas and asbestos
sheets from their low-cost houses. The 30-minute storm began about 1.30pm
and caused damage estimated at RM20,000.
Developer not issued licence
to sell houses yet, says Chin 11/04/1997 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The Housing and Local Goverment Ministry will take
Mehara Holdings (M) Berhad to court if it has violated the Housing Developers
Act by selling houses without a developer's licence. Its Deputy Minister Peter
Chin Fah Kui said the Ministry's licensing division confirmed today that Mehara
Holdings had not been issued a developer's licence yet.
Order to prop up foundations
11/04/1997 NST
PENANG, Thurs. - Two development companies have been directed to prop up the
foundations of five houses next to their development projects. State Executive
Councillor Dr Kang Chin Seng said today the two firms were Gan Realty and
Choong Company.
Ting: Lodge complaints against
developer 13/04/1997 NSUNT
KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - The Housing and Local Government Ministry needs at least
five people to lodge official complaints against Mehara Holdings (M) Bhd to
enable the authorities to prosecute the company. Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew
Peh said today the company had committed at least three offences if it was
true that it collected deposits from house- buyers.
Petition to rectify defects
at apartments 14/04/1997 NST
PENANG, Sun. - Residents at the Harbour View Apartments in Pengkalan Weld
have sent a petition to the Penang Island Municipal Council president to seek
his help in rectifying defects and faults at their 10-storey apartment block.
The residents' pro-tem association chairman Amanullah Syed Mohamad said today
they had to resort to this because the developer, Koperasi Gabungan Negeri,
had failed to take remedial measures.
State to take over abandoned
projects NST 15/04/1997
ALOR STAR, Mon. - State Government agencies will take over the task of completing
projects abandoned by developers if they do not take measures to revive them.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Sanusi Junid said the State Government at its State
Planning meeting at Wisma Darul Aman today decided to hold discussions with
some 20 developers with a view to assist them to revive their abandoned projects.
Kedah ambil alih projek rumah
gagal BH 15/04/1997 By Hassan Omar
ALOR STAR, Isnin - Kedah akan mengambil alih projek perumahan dan rumah kedai
terbengkalai di negeri ini jika pemaju sedia ada tidak berupaya menyiapkannya.
Bagi tujuan itu, kerajaan meminta 20 pemaju terbabit mengemukakan bukti bahawa
mereka sudah berusaha mengatasi masalah yang dihadapi sehingga menyebabkan
projek gagal disiapkan mengikut jadual.
Pemaju kena kemuka bukti
HM 15/04/1997 By Hassan Omar
ALOR STAR: Sebanyak 20 pemaju projek perumahan dan rumah kedai yang terbengkalai
diarahkan mengemukakan bukti kepada kerajaan negeri mengenai langkah bagi
menyiapkan projek terbabit. Kerajaan negeri tidak akan teragak-agak mengambil
alih projek berkenaan jika mereka gagal mengemukakan bukti manakala pemaju
yang mampu mengemukakan bukti itu akan dibantu menyiapkan projek terbabit.
Ambil alih projek perumahan
terbengkalai BH 16/04/1997
KANGAR, Selasa - Orang ramai meminta kerajaan negeri mengambil alih semua
projek perumahan terbengkalai bagi mengelak pembeli menanggung beban dan kerugian
kerana rumah yang dibeli tidak boleh diduduki. Menurut mereka, agensi berkaitan,
termasuk Perbadanan Kemajuan Ekonomi Negeri Perlis (PKENPs) dan Menteri Besar
diperbadankan (MBI) mampu menyiapkan projek berkenaan.
RM4,000 for house amenities
17/04/1997 NST
IT will cost a middle or low-cost housebuyer about RM4,000 to equip the house
with basic amenities such as electrical wiring, water tank and waste treatment
system. For low-cost houses, the contribution for the basic amenities is waived,
said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui. He was
replying to Lim Guan Eng's (DAP-Kota Melaka) question of fairness to "force"
housing developers and house buyers to bear the costs for sewerage, telephone
and electricity, when the supply system for the services is privatised, claiming
it would increase the cost of houses by RM8,000. "Among the basic amenities
that have to be built is a water tank which costs RM285, the electrical system
which costs RM705 and waste treatment system costing RM1,136. These and some
others would not come up to RM8,000 for medium and low-cost houses. "The RM8,000
figure may be for high-cost houses," said Chin. He said the infrastructure
for sewage is part of the basic infrastructure for any housing development
and therefore it is fair that it is provided by the developer.
House-hunting
17/04/1997 MM
CITY HALL is `shopping around' for low-cost houses to rent out to the urban
poor - and it has a RM90 million budget for this. Under the Seventh Malaysia
Plan (1996-2000), City Hall has RM20 million to buy houses this year, and
RM70 million over the next three years
Squatters' plight after relocation
17/04/1997 NST-LTIMES
IN two weeks, Ahmad Mat Jebas will be moving into his new home. But unlike
others, he is not at all excited at the prospect of owning his own home. Ahmad,
a supervisor with the National Archives, has been dreading this moment. And
he has cause to. With a wife and nine children to support, and a monthly salary
of RM700, Ahmad is almost certain that he won't be able to service the monthly
instalments by himself even though his is a low- cost apartment. This predicament
has caused Ahmad many sleepless nights and restless, anxious days at work.
But what choice has he? As a squatter in Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum in Kuala
Lumpur, he has been ordered to relocate to the completed low-cost apartments
nearby.
Landscaping guidelines for
housing estates 18/04/1997 NST
KAJANG, Thurs. - Housing estate developers will have to follow a more specific
set of landscaping guidelines by the end of this year, Housing and Local Government
Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said today. The guidelines will specify the
types of trees suitable for planting in housing estates as well as proper
maintenance of the trees which, apart from being planted in open spaces, must
also be planted at the roadside.
Datuk Bandar clears air on
parking bays 18/04/1997 MM
NEW buildings in Kuala Lumpur will still have parking bays but the number
will be reduced by 30 per cent. Datuk Bandar Tan Sri Kamaruzzaman Shariff
said the policy has already been implemented since last year as part of the
authority's traffic management plan.
Developer to be charged
20/04/1997 NSUNT
KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - The Department of Environment has been given the green
light by the deputy public prosecutor to file charges against the developer
of the Ukay Perdana housing project in Hulu Klang, for flouting environmental
regulations. DOE director-general Tan Meng Leng said preparations were being
made to file the case against Projek Ikatan Rapi Sdn Bhd in a Selangor court.
Protecting their interests 21/04/1997 MM
IT has been six years since work on Genting Court, off Jalan Genting Klang,
started - and purchasers recently learnt that certificates of fitness (CFs)
will be issued by June. Instead of letting out a collective sigh of relief,
they formed the Genting Court's Owners Association to protect their interests
yesterday.
Work sites must be safe, says
Koh 21/04/1997 NST
PENANG, Sun. - Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon today reminded developers
and contractors of development projects in the State to ensure that their
work sites were not only safe for their workers but also the public. He urged
them to take precautions to ensure that accidents did not occur at these sites
and public safety was not compromised.
Probe into cause of sinking
road 22/04/1997 MM
THE reason behind the sinking of a road leading to Menara Mutiara, Taman TAR,
Ampang, near where a boulder rolled downhill last Thursday, will be known
today. A Shah Alam Properties Holding spokesman said their engineers were
sent there yesterday to determine the cause of the problem and to find out
what had caused a one-tonne boulder to roll down a hillslope after heavy rain.
Fear over `runaway' boulder
22/04/1997 MM
THE "runaway" boulder incident last Thursday is giving Menara Mutiara residents
in Taman TAR, Ampang, the jitters. Although the rolling one-tonne rock did
not cuse any serious damage as it landed on a drain following heavy rain,
the hilltop condominium dwellers feared erosion and called for steps to check
it.
Confusing signals on environmental
issues 22/04/1997 NST-LTIMES
POLITICIANS are sending out confusing signals to the public. They tell us
we must "green" the nation. They also say the country needs more mega projects.
This invariably means more levelling of hills, not to mention pushing up the
overall pollution load. So where do we draw the line? Take for instance, the
"Garden Nation" campaign organised by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
and the local authorities last month. The campaign has set a target: three
million trees by the year 2000 and 20 million trees by 2020.
Pledge to revive nine abandoned
projects 24/04/1997 NST-LTIMES
PERLIS has pledged to revive all nine abandoned housing projects across the
State by this year. State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman
Khor Liang Tee said the Government was determined to see the plan taking off
soon.
Land office told to look into
complaints 25/04/1997 NST
IPOH, Thurs.- The Public Complaints Bureau in the Prime Minister's Department
has directed the Kinta Land Office to investigate complaints that reserve
land between buildings known as "fire lanes" in Gunong Rapat has been approved
for the construction of shops. The fire lanes serve as a buffer in the event
of a fire.
Quick response from developer
25/04/1997 MM
A DEVELOPER ordered repairs on a drain in Taman Bamboo on Wednesday the same
day The Malay Mail reported that it was damaged by lorries plying the project
site nearby. Sri Intan 2 Condominium developer Crystal Aims Sdn Bhd got the
remedial works going immediately after reading the report.
Developer doing maintenance
work at site 25/04/1997 MM
FLOOD-PREVENTION works are being carried out at the controversial Ukay Perdana
housing project in Hulu Klang by the developer. Larut Consolidated Bhd assistant
general manager (project) Ting Jian Guo said among others, it was carrying
out desilting works and building bunds to prevent flash flood in the area
Kuantan builders not toeing
the line 26/04/1997 NST-LTIMES
THE housing developers in Kuantan do not seem to heed the call made by the
Ministry of Housing and Local Government to issue strata titles to owners
of such properties within a certain specified period. Many owners have yet
to receive the strata titles for their properties.
Hillslope houses cracking up
26/04/1997 MM
RESIDENTS of Jalan 1/1, Taman Universiti Indah, Seri Kembangan, have been
having jitters since last October when cracks began to appear on their walls
and floors. The 20 residents who live atop a hillslope fear the cause of the
ever- widening cracks is soil instability, and an engineer's report seems
to affirm this.
CM: Only bona fide developers
to get projects 27/04/1997 NSUNT
KUDAT, Sat. - The Sabah State Government will impose stricter control over
present and future housing developments, including scrutinising developer
companies and their directors. "The Government is aware that there is a need
to review the Housing (control and Licensing of Developers) Enactment 1978
(Sabah) and the Land (Subsidiary Title) Enactment 1972 to address various
aspects as a result of new developments in the state housing industry," Chief
Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee said at the ceremony of handing over of keys
to housebuyers at Taman Ehsan here.
Developer sees 20pc returns
from Sentul Perdana project 28/04/1997 BT
THE RM400 million Sentul Perdana residential project under contruction in
Kuala Lumpur is expected to contribute 20 per cent returns to its developr,
GKM Wilayah-Prescon Sdn Bhd, upon completion in 1999. GKM executive director
Datuk Elli Mohd Tahir said response to the project is overwhelming, especially
for its 720-unit Menara Orkid apartments and the 32-units three-storey shop/office
buildings.
Turning to minister over CF
28/04/1997 MM
IN another attempt to obtain their long-overdue Certificates of Fitness, the
owners of the Genting Court Condominiums along Jalan Genting Klang have appealed
to Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh to intervene.
They are hoping the Minister will be able to arrange a meeting between the
owners and the developer, Immetec Sdn Bhd, to thrash out the problem
Robohkan 134 rumah terbengkalai:
Pemuda Umno BH 29/04/1997
BATU PAHAT, Isnin - Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan disaran merobohkan
134 unit rumah kos rendah di Tongkang Pechah, dekat sini yang terbengkalai
selama lebih lima tahun. Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno bahagian Batu Pahat,
Mohd Zaid Yusof, berkata projek perumahan awam itu tidak dapat dijual kepada
pemohon kerana masalah keselamatan bangunan yang dikatakan tidak layak diduduki.
Maksiat, dadah di rumah tinggal
HM 29/04/1997 By Hassan Muin
BATU PAHAT: Beberapa rumah di sebuah kawasan projek perumahan di Tongkang
Pechah, dekat sini, yang terbengkalai sejak lebih lima tahun lalu, kini dipercayai
menjadi sarang penagih dadah dan tempat pasangan remaja melakukan maksiat.
Projek mengandungi 134 unit rumah kos rendah itu dikatakan tidak dapat dijual
kepada orang ramai kerana masalah keselamatan bangunan yang dikatakan tidak
layak diduduki.
Council awaits reports on sinking
wall30/04/1997 MM
KLANG residents will have to wait a bit longer for the latest recreational
spot in the district overlooking Sungai Klang. The Klang Municipal Council
is still waiting for reports from the project consultant and developer that
will explain the sinking of the wall built around the river which forced work
to stop.
