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GENERAL NEWS REPORTS
(2002)
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1. HBA goes national 02/11/2002 NST-PROP

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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!

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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."

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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:

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. The leasehold fallacy 16/11/2002 The Star By Previndran Singhe
    ON PROPERTYThe debate on freehold versus leasehold will continue passionately among house buyers.

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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. .

29. 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. 

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. ‘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.

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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. 

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. `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.

47. 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.

48. 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.

49. 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.

50. `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.

51. 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.

52. 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.

53. 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.

54. 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.

55. 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

56. 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.

57. 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.

58. 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.