Quick action on grouses by housebuyers
NST 26/08/1999 By Ahmad Suffian
KUALA LUMPUR, Wed. - A monitoring and supervisory committee has been set up by the Housing and Local Government Ministry to handle and quickly
resolve housebuyers' complaints.
The committee is headed by Deputy Ministers Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui and Datuk Shafie Apdal.It has seven permanent members including the
Ministry's Secretary-General Datuk Khalid Husin and Department for Local Government Director-General Datuk Lokman Hakim Mohd Jasan.
Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said the Cabinet was deeply concerned over the rising number of complaints from housebuyers and had directed the
Ministry to resolve them.
"Its objective is to assist housebuyers to resolve their problems and also ensure that the local housing industry progresses smoothly."
The task was previously entrusted to the Ministry's enforcement and supervisory division.
Now two Deputy Ministers have been appointed to preside over the committee and speed up matters.
Ting was speaking to reporters after a post-Cabinet meeting today.
The committee will provide advisory services and also educate the public, especially housebuyers, on their respective rights upon signing the sale
and purchase agreements with the developers.
It will also liaise with consumer associations, residents' associations and other non-governmental organisations.
Ting said prior to 1988, the Ministry received an average of between 500 and 700 complaints each year.
However, the number rose drastically to 1,135 cases last year due to an increase in construction activities, housing demand and the Ministry's
stringent supervision of the industry.
There were also 150 outstanding complaints.
Out of the 1,935 cases, housing defects constituted 195 complaints, seeking compensation (151), certificate of fitness delays (99), late delivery
of houses (91) and false declaration in the sale and purchase agreement (66).
The rest of the complaints pertained to inadequate services, basic facilities and cheating.
"The Government is concerned over this and wants the number of complaints to be reduced ..."
The committee later convened its first meeting today. It will meet every week to identify the problems faced by housebuyers and property
developers and make its recommendations to the Ministry.
The Minister will in turn submit up-to-date reports to the Cabinet and the steps taken to resolve the problems, on a regular basis. |
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