A STRATA title board to hear grievances of lot owners of high-rise buildings is expected to be operational in Selangor and Penang soon, said Deputy Land and Co-operative Minister Dr Tan Kee Kwong.

“The other states are still preparing amendments to their procedures on strata titles,” he said.

He said amendments to the Strata Title Act in 2001 had paved the way for the setting up of the board which would hear serious cases regarding strata titles.

Winding up the debate on Budget 2004, Dr Tan said the ministry was discussing with authorities like City Hall on the issuance of special certificates of fitness (CFs) for about 25 old buildings in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya.

“We are considering whether there could be a provision to issue special or limited CFs for such buildings,” he said.

At present, no strata title could be issued to buildings without CFs.

The old buildings, which had existed for at least 25 years, were either without their original building plans or their developer, he said.

Dr Tan added that the Government was expected to announce a national co-operative policy in December.