Houses without CFs built before MPAJ was set up
03/12/2002 The Star

OLD buildings and houses built prior to the establishment of the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) is the reason why a high number of properties in the municipality are without certificates of fitness (CFs).

Council president Ahmad Kabit said: ''Ampang Jaya is not a new area. It has been around for a long time. there are so many villages which were established more than 50 years ago and housing estates that were set up in the 1970s.

''MPAJ is only 10 years old and we can safely say that projects approved in the 1990s are mostly with CFs unless the developer has not fulfilled certain requirements,'' he said, adding that Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo had said that 30% of properties and buildings in Ampang Jaya had not been issued the CF.

''What is now known as the Ampang Jaya municipality was previously under the jurisdiction of the Gombak and Hulu Langat district councils,'' he said.

Ahmad said some projects like the Al-Ridhwan Flats in Sungai Sering and Riverdale Apartments in Bukit Antarabangsa were given temporary CF (TCF) status because the developers had not fulfilled their obligations to the buyers as well as the council’s requirements.

''In some cases, we issue TCFs and allow people to move in because we understand that some have nowhere to stay and are servicing bank loans. So we allow them to move in on humanitarian grounds,'' Ahmad said.

He added that developers should be held accountable when the local authority did not issue CFs because they were at fault for not fulfilling their obligations.

''I hope developers will be more responsible to their buyers and as a corporate citizen so that CFs can be issued without hassle,'' he said.

Ahmad also explained the difference between the issuance of CF and collection of assessment.

''The council collects assessment when a property is occupied and MPAJ is ready to provide services such as garbage collection.

''CFs are issued when MPAJ is satisfied that the developer has done its part and is sure of its safety,'' Ahmad said.

''Once residents move into their premises, they must start paying assessments,'' Ahmad said.