Dr. Koh gives assurance on unsold bumiputra lots

The Star 26/09/2001

PENANG Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has assured developers he will try to convince the Deputy Prime Minister on the need to review the formula and mechanism for the release of unsold bumiputra housing units.

Dr Koh said he would arrange for Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) Penang branch chairman Datuk Ong Gim Huat to meet Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and key members of the state bumiputra steering committee to discuss the matter. .

Ong, who had earlier handed Dr Koh a memorandum on the difficulty in obtaining the release of unsold bumiputra units despite meeting the conditions of approval when he attended Rehda’s annual dinner on Monday night, said developers had faced the problems for some years.

Federal guidelines require clearance from seven technical departments but Penang developers are also required to obtain approval from the state bumiputra steering committee before getting certificate of fitness for their projects.

''I understand the problems faced by Penang developers. But the quota on bumiputra reserved units and release of unsold units comes under the jurisdiction of the Bumiputra Participation Co-ordination Division, which is headed by Abdullah.

He added he would also forward the memorandum to Housing Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and request for him to personally raise the issue with Abdullah in view of the differing guidelines.

Ong, in his speech, said the failure to obtain the letter of release for unsold bumiputra lots had caused hardship.

''Time is of the essence. We do not have the time to argue and more often than not we give in to the authorities’ interpretations of the guidelines and bylaws,'' he said.