Kayveas slams errant builders

NST 31/12/2001 By Annie Freeda Cruez

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. — The lackadaisical attitude of contractors, especially their  non-compliance with Malaysian standards in the construction industry, is posing a  serious threat with the mushrooming of defective and low-quality buildings.

The problem is becoming more serious, with sub-standard workmanship and materials used in the construction.

The increase in the number of complaints filed by consumers, especially property buyers, with the Housing and Local Government Ministry annually reflects the   seriousness of the problem.

The House Buyers Association (HBA) and the Federation of Malaysian Consumers  Association (Fomca) have also received numerous complaints on defects in new   buildings, especially houses.

Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk M. Kayveas said the matter was serious and it was essential to address it urgently.

"Contractors' usage of low quality materials and unskilled workforce for construction work has and is causing numerous defects in buildings such as cracked walls, sinking floors, leaking roofs and other structural defects," he told the New Straits Times today.

Till September this year, the Ministry received 1,823 complaints, a steep rise from the 737 in 1997 and 446 in 1990.

The complaints were about defective work, no certificate of fitness, late delivery of   houses, violation of the Sale and Purchase agreement, fraud and lack of infrastructure  such as access roads and drains. It is learnt that many more cases go unreported.

Kayveas said contractors should abide by Malaysian standards and laws by using  quality materials for construction of buildings, more importantly when they had to   compete in the local and international market.

"Developers and contractors who construct buildings and houses must also employ  skilled workers," he added.

It was unfortunate, Kayveas said, that many contractors employed unskilled workers,  especially foreign workers, in the construction industry. The result of this was shoddy   work.

"Many of these foreign workers are just taught overnight how to mix cement with sand, how to erect a brick wall and even how to plaster a wall," he added.

He said many contractors did not care to provide quality work or good service to   consumers.

"It is the buyers who are always short-changed," said Kayveas, adding that the ministry was aware of the problem and was taking proactive measures to address them.

When told that enforcement was seriously lacking and the public was unhappy with the service provided by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Kayveas said he would have to check this problem out.

"Since the matter is of serious concern, I will bring this up with the Minister," he said,   adding that the ministry would also be closely liaising with the relevant associations and agencies to get feedback on the matter.

Kayveas, who is also facing problems with a condominium he bought on Lorong Syed Putra Kiri, said the ministry would also look into false advertisements put up by developers promising house buyers additional recreational facilities such as swimming  pool, nursery, and library. But at the end of the day, these were not provided.

He said the ministry had taken many errant contractors and developers to court but the problem still prevailed.

Kayveas hoped the newly amended Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966 would help solve many of the problems.

HBA secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said there were some house buyers who had complained about workmanship even before officially receiving their keys when they made site visits during the construction stage.

"House buyers expect a new home to be a new house, just like a new car, but when the houses have defects and bad workmanship, many feel cheated. They have to shoulder the burden of chasing developers for remedial work to be done and this may take a long time. In some instances, the house buyers are deprived of living in their new homes due to the defects." He said it was about time the CIDB ensured that all construction workers, whether foreign or locals registered with it, were competent and skilled workers.

CIDB functions include promoting the development of the construction industry, providing consultancy and advisory services, encouraging standardisation and improvement of construction techniques and materials and providing, promoting and co-ordinating training programmes for the industry.

It also accredits and registers contractors as well as accredits and certifies skilled   construction workers and construction site supervisors.

On Dec 13 last year, Deputy Works Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced that the CIDB would allocate RM15 million to provide construction skills training of between one and three months to school leavers from this year.