Don't let project engineers issue CFs

THE STAR  1/7/2004

IT is surprising to hear that the local authorities are giving the responsibility of issuing Certificates of Fitness (CFs) to the engineers and architects of the project.

This may not be a good idea.

There are bound to be some mercenary engineers and architects who collaborate with the developers to shortchange the buyers and deliberately do not finish the project to specifications and legal requirements.

Then they may use the buyers' urgency to plead to the authorities to accept the shoddy project or bypass specifications. Some may even get CFs before the house is completed properly.

The engineers are very well versed in the requirements of the authorities for the CFs, but still drag the issue on CFs to the last moment.

Who is to check these unscrupulous "professionals" if the issue of CFs is the engineer's or architect's responsibility?

I hope the authorities will reconsider this decision for the benefit of the buyers.

ESKAY KAJANG,
Kajang.
(via e-mail)