Ministry ignoring breach of Strata Titles Act

25/02/2003 The Sun By Mana Strata Title?Kuala Lumpur

The issue of strata titles has become an unwanted baby which the Land and Cooperative Development Ministry seems reluctant to tackle despite numerous complaints.

It looks like the norm for developers not to comply with the requirement to apply for the strata titles within six months of obtaining the certificate of fitness from local authorities.

The government unwittingly encourages this open defiance by errant developers. I believe the ministry has not taken any action to prosecute the errant developer for non-compliance.

Has the provision (to prosecute) in the Strata Titles Act been repealed? No one in the ministry is bothered over the injustice suffered by buyers.

Developers must have included the cost of the application for the titles in the sale price of the apartments. This can never be free offer, at least, not stated in the colourful brochures at the sales launch. What is the reason for the errant developers not to proceed with the application?

By not complying, does the money collected from buyers not amount to a criminal breach of trust?

This needs the attention of the cabinet, if the plight of thousands of owners is considered. Indications seem to suggest that the general election is not too far away.