Justice for housebuyer
Malay Mail 26/3/2003 By Muzli Mohd Zin
IF you are not happy with the compensation offered by the developer for the
late delivery of your house, do not hesitate to turn to the Housing
Tribunal.
The same applies for those displeased with the developers’ poor workmanship
of their homes.
Justice will be served, as housebuyer Bernard Chin Kim Fook discovered.
Yesterday, his compensation claim of RM22,745.42 made against Puncakdana Sdn
Bhd, the developer of his Puncak Sri Kelana home, was granted by the
tribunal.
Tribunal president Kamardin Hashim also ordered the company to pay Chin
within 14 days, effective yesterday.
The claim was for late delivery, by 368 days, of the house he bought in
December 1998.
For Chin, 38, after months of heartache corresponding with the developer for
his “rights”, the judgment was a big relief.
“I am absolutely happy (with the judgment), and of course, relieved that
it’s finally over,” the marketing manager said after the hearing.
Chin decided to turn to the tribunal after unsuccessful efforts to get what
was rightfully his from the developer.
In his earlier ‘negotiation’ with the developer for his claim, he said he
was only offered 75 per cent, which he described as unfair.
“Several lawyers whom I approached a few months ago also could not guarantee
that I could get what I want,” he said. “I was even told it would take years
for my case to be heard at the courts.”
Describing the tribunal as efficient, Chin said it took less than two months
for his case, which was filed in January, to be heard.
“It was also a pleasant surprise that the judgment was made on the same day
of my hearing,” he said.
In yesterday’s hearing, held at the tribunal’s office in Aras 2, Block B
(South) in Pusat Bandar Damansara, the tribunal also heard five other cases
filed by disgruntled housebuyers.
The tribunal’s first hearing since its inception on Dec 1, was on Feb 24.
Meanwhile, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk M. Kayveas
told a Press conference yesterday that between its inception and February,
the tribunal had received 103 cases filed by disgruntled housebuyers
nationwide.
Of the total, he said, 93 were for late delivery compensations and the
remaining on technical matters, such as poor workmanship.
“Of the total, four cases have been solved, while the rest are in progress,”
he said.
Kayveas said Selangor recorded the highest number at 79 cases, followed by
Kelantan (13), Negri Sembilan (six), Penang (two), Johor (two) and Pahang
(one).
He said following the good response and need to assist housebuyers, the
Ministry would consider having similar housing tribunals at major towns in
the country.
“If this happens, housebuyers outside Klang Valley will no longer have to
travel far to file their cases,” he said.
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