Bring to book Strata Titles Act violators

07/04/2003 The  Sun

I refer to the article "Ministry accepts blame for strata title delays" (theSun, March 12), in which the Land and Cooperative Development Minister was reported to have announced that one errant developer was prosecuted last year for not applying for strata titles, and there are several other cases pending.

Is this an attempt to make it appear that complaints on delays are fiction?

According to the minister, his ministry received very few complaints. His advice? House buyers must file a report before action can be taken. This is the justification for why action is being taken in only a few cases.

I would like to be convinced that there are only a handful of errant developers.

This is, however, not so. Complaints have been reported in the newspapers from time to time. The ministry opted for silence, hoping that when the heat subsides, everything will return to normal.

It is the ministry's responsibility to ensure that developers comply with the law and apply for strata titles.

Why is the ministry afraid to use the provision in the Strata Titles Act to prosecute those who violate the law?

Are developers' exempt from prosecution?

As an analogy, do the police act only on reports of motorists breaking traffic rules?

The strata title problem could have been minimised if the ministry has been brave enough to insist that developers pay the fees upfront before a project is approved.

In the event of a developer folding up, what will happen to the owners then?

Belum dapat strata title?
Kuala Lumpur

Related article: Ministry accepts blame for strata title delays" (the Sun, March 12)