Group says no to certifying architects

The Star 25/11/2003

PETALING JAYA: The National House Buyers Association (HBA) is against the prospect of allowing architects to certify approved building plans but it welcomes the move to eradicate bureaucracy.

Citing fears of possible abuses if architects are allowed to certify approved building plans, HBA secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said deregulation in certain application procedures for the certificates of fitness for occupation (CFO) was viable if all parties were responsible in their respective duties.

On Saturday, the Housing and Local Government Ministry announced that one-stop CFO application centres, in operation by Dec 1, would require approval from only two departments. The current CFO process involves approval from seven departments.

In trimming some of the procedures, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the ministry would allow “professionals like architects to do self-certification and recommendations.”

To this, Chang said: “Let’s not forget that the developer is the architect’s paymaster. There are incidences where developers coerced their architects to pre-approve building plans.”