HBA goes national 02/11/2002 NST-PROP
They refuse to move to `shabby'
longhouse 04/11/2002 MM
ABOUT 270 families at the Rumah Panjang (Kawasan D), Jinjang Utara, have refused
the developers' request to move to a newly-constructed longhouse, just 800
metres away. The residents claimed this was due to the shabbily-built longhouse
which could be a safety hazard
Oil palm fibres to be
used as construction material 06/11/2002 The Star
Oil palm trunks, long considered an agricultural waste product, may soon be
the latest feature in the construction of Malaysian homes, beginning with
two pioneer projects in 2004.
House buyers sacrificial lambs
at uncaring developers' altar 07/11/2002 NST
I REFER to the letter entitled "Reforms to end house buyers' dilemma" (NST,
Oct 29) and fully agree with the sentiments expressed. I relate the woes of
my son who bought a house in Saujana Puchong.
Housing Development Act
to be gazetted on Feb 1 07/11/2002 The Star
Kuala Lumpur: The Government will gazette the recently passed Housing Development
Act on Feb 1.
Honest way to get rich 08/11/2002 NST By Charisma Mendoza
There is not one among us who, at one time or another, dreamt of being rich.
Some of us went to convert that dream - you became rich, you made it!
House buyers ‘assured’
The Star 08/11/2002 By Manjit Kaur
Financial consultancy firm Deloitte KassimChan has been appointed to manage,
monitor and to see that the stalled Taman Kasawari housing project in Simpang
Ampat gets off the ground again.
New housing Act to take
effect on Dec 1 09/11/2002 The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of the long-awaited Housing Development (Control
and Licensing) (Amendment) Act 2001 under which a Housing Tribunal will be
formed, will take effect on Dec 1, Housing Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting
announced yesterday.
200 conned
homebuyers lodge police report against developer
10/11/2002 NST By Sharanjit Singh
MALACCA, Nov 10: Some 200 people who were allegedly conned into buying
houses at a new industrial area here have lodged police reports, alleging
that the company was not licensed.
New consumer tribunal guidelines
10/11/2002 NSTUNT By Hamidah Atan
SEREMBAN, Nov 9: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will issue
new guidelines on cases that can be referred to the Consumer Claims Tribunal.
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the guidelines were needed in view
of the formation of the special Housing Tribunal under the Housing Developers
(Control and Licensing) Act 1966.
Perbadanan Putrajaya has become
...11/11/2002 BT
PERBADANAN Putrajaya has become the first local authority to publish the issue
of certificates of fitness (CFs) for occupation of houses within its jurisdiction
on its website, http://www.putrajaya.net.my. Its president Tan Sri Azizan
Zainul Abidin said: "A CF is issued to protect the public so they know they
are getting buildings which are fit to be occupied."
95 projek perumahan terbengkalai
13/11/2002 HM
DEWAN Rakyat dimaklumkan sekurang-kurangnya 95 projek perumahan dikenal pasti
terbengkalai manakala 43,541 unit rumah gagal dijual pemaju sehingga Oktober
lalu.
Kerajaan kaji lindungi pembeli
hartanah komersial 13/11/2002 BH
KERAJAAN sedia mengkaji langkah melindungi pembeli hartanah komersial daripada
teraniaya sekiranya projek berkenaan terbengkalai, kata Timbalan Menteri Perumahan
dan Kerajaan Tempatan, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui. Katanya, Akta Pemaju Perumahan
sedia ada tidak melindungi hak pembeli hartanah komersial walaupun pembeli
rumah mempunyai ruang untuk membuat aduan sekiranya projek perumahan terbengkalai.
Flat owners to get strata titles
after 15-year wait 14/11/2002 NST-CITY
AFTER waiting for 15 years, the 294 owners of the Sri Petaling "Zone C" medium
low-cost apartments will soon get their strata titles. However, the residents
have to form their own management corporation before the developer, Petaling
Garden Berhad, could hand over the titles. Residents also have to first settle
the maintenance fees owed to the developer - some of whom owed up to RM10,000,
accumulated over 15 years.
Amended law is more protective
of house buyers 14/11/2002 NST
WE refer to L.C.F.'s letter (NST, Nov 7, 2002) and we sympathise with the
problems that his son is facing after being told to take possession of his
house. On his refusal to take over the house due to a leaking roof, flooding
in certain parts of the house and warping of the parquet, we have this to
say. The Housing Developers' Act, 1966, Schedule G (this is the stipulated
standard Sales and Purchase Agreement for landed properties) Clause 21 (2)
and Schedule H (this is the stipulated standard Sales and Purchase Agreement
for Subdivided buildings) Clause 23 (2) both state:
Property developers face labour
shortage 14/11/2002 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - Property developers are still troubled by a shortage
of construction workers despite the Government having approved more than 300,000
permits for foreign workers since the end of the amnesty for illegal immigrants
on July 31. The Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) said
only 38,000 Indonesian workers had arrived in Malaysia to work in the construction
sector, although the Government had approved 369,021 permits.
Late delivery charges of RM1.2b
seen: Rehda 14/11/2002 MM
THE Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) says that the
housing industry may lose RM1.2 billion in late delivery charges due to an
acute shortage of labour. Rehda president Datuk Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip told
newsmen yesterday that the losses would mainly centre on liquidated and ascertained
damages or late delivery penalty charges to house buyers and subsequently,
by contractors to developers.
Over 900 housebuyers in debt because
of abandoned houses 15/11/2002 Utusan Online
JOHOR BAHRU Nov 14 - A total of 922 housebuyers in Johor are indebted to either
banks or financial institutions following the abandonment of 24 housing projects
as of December last year, the state assembly was told today.
Billion ringgit loss 15/11/2002 MM
DEVELOPERS stand to lose RM1.2 billion in Liquidated and Ascertained Damages
(LAD), or late delivery charges which is payable by developers to house buyers
and subsequently by contractors to developers if the current labour shortage
continued. Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) president
Datuk Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip said the charges would continue to accumulate with
each day of delayed delivery and will result in contractors and developers
facing financial difficulties.
Paying for neglect
16/11/2002 NST
ABANDONED high-rise buildings and vacant structures are not only an eyesore
but also pose health and safety hazards. Apart from falling metals, materials
and tower cranes, the probability of a fire in a dilapidated building due
to vandalism or some other cause is high and thus such buildings present a
severe exposure potential. Whatever the reasons for the abandonment, private
owners cannot simply neglect their property. If the projects cannot be revived
or rehabilitated, the local authorities should find new uses for the buildings,
while the unsafe buildings should be demolished. The existing regulations
are not only poorly enforced but they are plainly inadequate.
The leasehold fallacy
16/11/2002 The Star By Previndran Singhe
ON PROPERTYThe debate on freehold versus leasehold will continue passionately
among house buyers.
Panel on abandoned buildings
17/11/2002 Sunday Star By Audrey Edwards
PETALING JAYA: A Cabinet committee has been formed to check on problems posed
by abandoned commercial buildings, including high-rise ones, some of which
are proving to be a safety hazard.
Panel to check derelict buildings
17/11/2002 NSUNT
KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - A Cabinet Committee has been set up to look into the
safety aspects of hundreds of abandoned commercial buildings, many of them
high-rise, in the country and recommend the remedial measures to be taken.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who announced
this today, added that the committee would determine the exact number involved,
the dangers posed by these incomplete buildings and how many have adhered
to safety measures
Association: Developers’
woes self-inflicted 18/11/2002 The Star By Clarence
Chua
KUALA LUMPUR: Developers’ claims that they stand to lose as much as RM1.2bil
in late delivery penalty charges are self-inflicted, National House Buyers
Association (HBA) secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said.
Developers to provide
built-in bins for homes 18/11/2002 The Star
KLANG: Developers will be required to provide built-in waste bins for future
homes in Selangor, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo. Dr Khir
said the state local government committee was conducting a study on ways to
implement this concept in future housing estates.
Housing Tribunal in business
on Dec 1 19/11/2002 NST By Shamini Darshni
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18: The amended Housing Developers’ Act, which will better
protect buyers with the setting up of a Housing Tribunal, takes effect on
Dec 1. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting today
said the tribunal would also operate from the same date.
TAPR mula dengar kes tuntutan
bulan depan 19/11/2002 BH
KUALA LUMPUR, Isnin - Tribunal Aduan Pembeli Rumah (TAPR) akan mula mendengar
kes tuntutan kurang RM25,000 pada 1 Disember ini, kata Menteri Perumahan dan
Kerajaan Tempatan, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting. Beliau berkata, pengerusi tribunal
berkenaan akan diumumkan tidak lama lagi setelah mendapat kelulusan Peguam
Negara manakala setiausaha tribunal sudah dilantik.
Minister won’t extend deadline
for developers 19/11/2002 The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Developers will not be exempted from making penalty payments
to house buyers for late delivery due to the shortage of construction workers.
.
RM3.8bil worth of unsold property
19/11/2002 The Star
JOHOR BARU: A total of RM3.8bil worth of property was unsold since August,
said state Housing Committee chairman Samat Aripin. Out of the total of 15,925
housing units, he said, 10,827 units were property worth more than RM150,000
each, mainly in Kangkar Pulai and Taman Desa Tebrau here.
Housing Tribunal will have work
cut out 20/11/2002 The Star
HOUSING and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has rejected
outright that he would use his ministerial power to extend the completion
period of projects due to labour shortage.
Housebuyers getting short end
of the stick 21/11/2002 The Star By V.K. Chin
HOUSING and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has to consider
the interest of housebuyers in rejecting calls to extend the completion date
of housing projects.
High hopes on Housing Tribunal
21/11/2002 NST
I COMMEND the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for setting up a Housing
Tribunal. I am among thousands of house buyers who are at the mercy of unethical
developers. I bought a house in Sungai Buaya. Unfortunately, it faced a lot
of problems and my house was handed over in the middle of Dec 2001. That is
about a year's delay.
Latest landslip
tragedy calls for action: geologist
21/11/2002 malaysia.kini.com Yap Mun Ching
The latest landslide tragedy which claimed eight lives in Taman Hillview,
Kuala Lumpur, highlights the need for the government to set up an agency to
look into causes of natural disasters, said a prominent geologist today.
Banglo
runtuh, lapan terbunuh 21/11/2002 BH
KUALA LUMPUR, Rabu: Lapan orang termasuk enam ahli keluarga bekas Panglima
Angkatan Tentera, Jen (B) Tan Sri Ismail Omar, terkorban dalam runtuhan banglo
mereka di Taman Hillview, Hulu Klang di sini, awal pagi ini. Ismail, 61, dan
seorang anak serta tiga cucunya terselamat, tetapi isterinya, Puan Sri Azizah
Abdul Aziz, 56, dan anak sulungnya serta dua menantu dan dua cucu terkorban.
‘Make
geological reports mandatory’ 22/11/2002 The
Star
PETALING JAYA: Two consumer groups want the Government to make it mandatory
for developers to furnish a geological report before approving new housing
projects.
Enforce law on hillside
development, state urged 22/11/2002 The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor should enforce the Land Conservation Act, 1960 (Revised
1989) under which it has the power to control development of hilly areas,
Land and Co-operative Development Ministry secretary-general Prof Datuk Dr
Nik Mohd Zain said.
Group: Poor enforcement to blame,
too 22/11/2002 The Star
PETALING JAYA: The lack of political will and poor enforcement of existing
hillside development guidelines are among the main causes of landslide occurrences,
Worldwide Fund for Nature Malaysia founding trustee Datuk Kington Loo said.
KL has 30 abandoned building projects:
Dompok 23/11/2002 Utusan Online
PUTRAJAYA Nov 22 - Kuala Lumpur has 30 abandoned building projects whose developers
have sought government assistance in completing them, Minister in the Prime
Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said today.
No to late delivery exemption
23/11/2002 NST-PROP
Developers hoping that the government would excuse them from paying liquidated
ascertained damages (LAD) for completing projects behind schedule as a result
of insufficient labour were disappointed this week when Minister of Housing
and Local Government Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said there would be no such exemption.
While understanding that some 3,500 projects nationwide are now operating
at less than half-strength because of the shortage of foreign workers, and
that the industry as a whole is facing losses of RM1.2 billion in penalty
payments, Ong said he would not use his ministerial powers to lengthen the
completion timeframes for landed and stratified housing beyond 24 months and
36 months respectively.
No move to revive abandoned
projects 23/11/2002 NST
PUTRAJAYA, Fri. - Developers of 17 of the 30 abandoned projects in Kuala Lumpur
have not applied to restart work. Of these projects, 10 are in the "super
structure" development stage. They are six apartment blocks, three mixed development,
and one office complex.
Going downhill...
24/11/2002 SUM
HAS 1993 Highland Tower tragedy taught us nothing? Or have the local authorities
become lackadaisical, thinking that was one isolated incident which has been
forgotten? That December 11 tragedy nine years ago, saw the lost of 48 lives.
The collapse of one of the three apartment blocks was attributed to a landslide
which came about after a week of heavy downpour.
Give all house
buyers access to tribunal 24/11/2002 Sunday Star
THE National House Buyers Association (HBA) welcomes Housing and Local Government
Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting’s recent announcement that the amended Housing
Development Act will take effect from Dec 1. House buyers can now expect
better protection from the implementation of the long-awaited amendments.
Be stricter with builders:
MP 25/11/2002 NST-CITY
HOUSING developers have been urged to be more responsible in carrying out
their projects so that they will not face problems in future. Segambut MP
Dr Tan Kee Kwong said this during a visit to the Angkupuri Condominium in
Mon't Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, which has not been issued a full certificate of
fitness (CF) despite being completed seven years ago.
Housebuyers to meet Pulau Berkembar
developer over completion delay 25/11/2002 NST By A.
Hafiz Yatim
MALACCA, Nov 24: Several buyers of development projects on Pulau Melaka would
be meeting developer Pulau Berkembar Sdn Bhd (previously known as Inno Enhance
Sdn Bhd) on Thursday over the delay in completion.
Apartmen retak
25/11/2002 HM
BUKIT BERUNTUNG: Penghuni Apartmen Bugenvilla, diselubungi kebimbangan menjadi
mangsa runtuhan, berikutan terdapat banyak rekahan dan keretakan pada kediaman
mereka. Mereka juga kesal kerana setiap kali aduan dibuat pemaju ambil mudah
dengan membuat tampalan biasa, sedangkan ia ternyata tidak berkualiti, malah
mengundang masalah lain.
`Pure economic loss cannot
be recovered' 27/11/2002 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Tues. - The 73 residents of Block Two and Three of Highland
Towers cannot recover their losses following the collapse of Block One because
it was pure economic loss, the Court of Appeal heard today. Counsel Cecil
Abraham said the law was clear that pure economic loss could not be recovered
as a result of damage to property of another (Block One), adding that the
loss was unrelated to property damage or personal injury that occurred in
Block One.
Masalah selesai
28/11/2002 HM
CHERAS: "Kalau 15 tahun kami sanggup tunggu, inikan pula setahun," kata Presiden
Persatuan Penduduk Apartmen Riviera, Taman Muda, Loh Yoke Seng, selepas diberitahu
masalah berkaitan hak milik strata yang dialami penduduk dapat diselesaikan.
Sebelum itu dia dan penghuni 320 unit rumah membabitkan empat blok apartmen
berkenaan menghadapi masalah berikutan kelewatan pemaju mendapatkan hak milik
strata sejak tinggal di situ pada tahun 1987.
Bahagian Hak Milik Strata diwujudkan
28/11/2002 Berita Harian
KUALA LUMPUR, Rabu – Kementerian Tanah dan Pembangunan Koperasi akan mewujudkan
Bahagian Hak Milik Strata di bawah Pejabat Tanah dan Galian (PTG) bagi mempercepatkan
proses pengeluaran hak milik strata perumahan bertingkat dan bangunan tinggi
lama.
Two weeks to decide on Taman
Hillview land 28/11/2002 MM
LAND owners and a housing developer near Taman Hillview, Ampang, are given
two weeks to decide whether to develop their respective land or not. Selangor
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said if they are unable to develop
their land, they have to hand them back to the State Government.
`MPAJ perlu bertanggungjawab'
28/11/2002 BH
PUTRAJAYA, Rabu - Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) tidak dapat lari daripada
bertanggungjawab terhadap kejadian tanah runtuh yang meranapkan sebuah banglo
di Bukit Hillview minggu lalu kerana kecuaian. Menteri di Jabatan Perdana
Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, berkata ini kerana MPAJ gagal melaksanakan
tanggungjawabnya sebagai pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk memastikan keselamatan
kawasannya.
40 peratus
permis tiada sijil menduduki 28/11/2002 BH
SHAH ALAM, Rabu – Kira-kira 40 peratus daripada bangunan di kawasan Ampang
jaya tidak mempunyai Sijil Kelayakan Menduduki (CF).Menteri Besar Selangor,
Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, berkata ia kerana pemaju atau pemilik rumah
tidak menghantar atau lewat mengemukakan pelan bangunan bagi mendapatkan CF.
Replace houses, developer
urged The Star 29/11/2002 By Chan Li Leen
IPOH: The Taman Lapangan Indah residents action committee wants the developer
of the housing scheme to demolish their cracked houses and replaced them with
new ones. Committee deputy chairman Zulkarnain Hashim said the committee and
residents of the 150 single and double-storey houses want the developer Meranti
Tiga Sdn Bhd to demolish the houses and rebuild them as they believed that
most of the houses were no longer fit for occupancy.
Highland Towers case: Court
to decide on Tuesday whether to allow appeals 29/11/2002
NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The Court of Appeal will decide on Tuesday whether
to allow the appeals by Arab Malaysian Finance Bhd and four others against
a High Court finding that they had contributed to a landslide at Highland
Towers in 1993. This was the finding of High Court judge Datuk James Foong
in a negligence suit by 73 former residents of Block Two and Three of Highland
Towers.
Replace houses, developer urged
29/11/2002 The Star
IPOH: The Taman Lapangan Indah residents action committee wants the developer
of the housing scheme to demolish their cracked houses and replaced them with
new ones. Committee deputy chairman Zulkarnain Hashim said the committee and
residents of the 150 single and double-storey houses want the developer Meranti
Tiga Sdn Bhd to demolish the houses and rebuild them as they believed that
most of the houses were no longer fit for occupancy.
No CF application made for
bungalow 29/11/2002 MM
THERE was no application made for a Certificate of Fitness (CF) for the bungalow
of retired general Tan Sri Ismail Omar in Taman Hillview, Hulu Klang which
was destroyed in a landslide on Nov 20. Ampang Jaya Municipal Council president
Ahmad Kabit confirmed yesterday there was no record of a CF application for
the house ever made to the council
Ismail akui rumah tidak mempunyai
CF 29/11/2002 BH
KUALA LUMPUR, Khamis - Bekas Panglima Angkatan Tentera, Jeneral (B) Tan Sri
Ismail Omar mengakui banglonya di Taman Hillview, Hulu Klang yang ranap dalam
kejadian tanah runtuh, minggu lalu, tidak mempunyai Sijil Kelayakan Menduduki
(CF). Beliau juga mengesahkan pernah memohon kebenaran Majlis Perbandaran
Ampang Jaya (MPAJ) untuk menjalankan kerja membersihkan tapak kediaman itu.
Poser over leasehold land
29/11/2002 MM
IMAGINE this scenario. You have been staying in a bungalow or terrace house
in Section 5, Petaling Jaya your entire life. That is the only home that you
know. However lately, you have been worried about the status of your house,
as you only have about 50-odd years left on the lease. It does not help that
recently, there were news reports of residents' objection to the PJ draft
local plan unveiled by Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya (MPPJ), which herald
changes for the township.
Compensation in 60 days
under housing tribunal 30/11/2002 The Star By Foong
Pek Yee
KUALA LUMPUR: Housebuyers can now get compensation of up to RM25,000 from
developers within 60 days from the date the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s
Tribunal for Homebuyer Claims starts hearing a case.
