Draft to amend housing Act finalised

The Star  19/06/2000

PENANG: The Housing and Local Government Ministry is finalising a draft copy of proposed amendments to the Housing Developers Act (1976) and will submit it to the Attorney-General's Chamber in August.

Minister Datuk Ong Ka Ting said his committee had been "transparent and considerate'' in the process of making the amendments.

The committee, he added, included representatives from the Housing Developers Association, Architects Association of  Malaysia, Master Builders Association, Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations, government agencies and lawyers well-versed in house buyers' rights.

"Revamp of the Act will rectify loopholes and out-dated clauses and make it more balanced and fairer to both house buyers and developers.

"The existing Act shows weaknesses in dealing with problematic projects. We hope the revamp will overcome future challenges in the housing industry,'' he said at a dinner talk organised by the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce here last night.

Among those present were chamber president Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping and state MCA chairman Datuk Dr Sak Cheng Lum.

Ong said the ministry hoped to obtain approval for the amendments without delay as it had been receiving numerous complaints from house buyers.

He added that details of the amendments would be announced later.

He also said the Federal Government would loan funds to state governments for the construction of low-cost houses to help poor house buyers as well as provide jobs for contractors.

"We are getting close to achieving our target under the Seventh Malaysia Plan to build 800,000 housing units by the end of this year.