Malaysia set to adopt Australia's strata title laws

Utusan Online 12/06/2002

MELBOURNE June 11 - The Malaysian government will be urged to adopt Australia's strata title model for the well-being of tenants, its Minister of Land and Co-operative Development, Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam said today.

Kasitah, who ends an eight-day three-city visit to Australia tomorrow, said that he was impressed by the Australian strata title clauses and how body corporates managed a variety of issues involving problems experienced by occupants of apartment and condominium units.

"I have looked into all aspects of land matters, including how disputes among high-rise occupants are settled and the sort of legal avenues Australian tribunals use to resolve disputes," he said.

Kasitah noted that these tribunals had as much judicial power as magistrates and they were effective in bringing parties together for an amicable settlement of disputes.

He said that more importantly, tribunals had the power to impose penalties and there was also the right to appeal against the tribunal decisions.

He said that he would study the Australian Acts pertaining to strata titles and recommend that the positive attributes of the Act be implemented in Malaysia.

The minister, who visited the land title offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, said that he was also interested in the layer-type management of multi-level, multi-purpose development.

Kasitah said that he found that land tax or rates varied from one unit, house or building to another.

"Land valuation by the local councils can vary and depended on circumstances of the surround and amenities each year. Developers in Australia are legally required to make full disclosures to potential buyers of all aspects of the development including setbacks.

"This is something we must look into seriously. I will study in detail what regulations we already have in Malaysia and take in all the good points I have observed in Australia to draft an effective Act for Parliament to consider and approve," he said.

Kasitah, a senator from Sabah, said he plans to have the new laws enacted before he retires from Parliament in 2004.