Buyers get keys but not OC

Buyers get keys, but not OC
The Star 27/10/2004

Over 1,000 purchasers of a housing project, located off the Jelutong Expressway, are upset that keys to their flats had been given out by the developer although the Occupational Certificate (OC) has not been issued yet.

The keys according to some of the residents were given out about two weeks ago to those who had settled their maintenance fees.

They told a press conference called by Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Lee Hack Teik at the site yesterday that they could not afford to pay the rental of their present houses and also service the bank loans of their respective units.

One of the purchasers Ooi Ching Yew, 32, a fishmonger said he had to pay RM250 in rental of a house in C.Y. Choy Road and also service a RM275 bank loan.

HOUSING WOES: Lee (right) looking at the sale and purchase agreement shown by some of the purchasers.

“I earn RM1,500 which is not enough for me to support two children and a wife, besides having to take care of other expenses,'' he said, adding that he hoped the OC would be obtained soon.

For 72-year-old Chng Buat Beng, he hoped he and his son, who bought a flat, could move in fast as they were now paying RM450 in rental for their current residence at Macallum Street.

Ooi Chin Beng, 69, whose house was destroyed in the Gat Lebuh Sandilands fire in 2000, said he hoped he could move in fast into his unit.

Chin Beng, who is living with his family currently at the temporarily longhouses near the site, questioned why the keys were handed out without the OC.

Lee urged the Penang Municipal Council to quickly issue the OC, adding that he feared other housing projects could be facing the same problem.

An IJM Properties Sdn Bhd spokesman said the developer had submitted the application for the OC to the council, adding that the company expected the OC to be issued soon.