Some professionals cannot be trusted
NST 1/7/2004

THE new Housing Development (Amendment) Act 2002 and the amendments to the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 were meant to speed up the issuance of the Certificate of Fitness (CFs). There was also a move by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to set up a one-stop agency to cut down red tape in application and issuance of CFs. However, doing away with the issuance of CFs by the local authorities and replacing it with declarations by professionals such as engineers and architects is not the answer.

Many house buyers have learnt the hard way that they cannot always trust these professionals. This happens when their new homes full of defects have been given the seal of approval by the professionals.

And it is not just a question of a handful of defective housing units, sometimes the whole housing project is affected. Every notice from the developer requesting payment has to be supported by a certificate signed by the architect as proof that works referred to have been completed.

Yet it is not unknown for such a certification to be issued when it is obvious that the works have not been completed at that stage. It is not to the house buyers' benefit to take vacant possession of their homes based on the professionals' declarations alone. This is because these professionals depend on the developers for their livelihood.

On the other hand, house buyers will benefit if the laws regulating these professional bodies are amended so that the stiffer penalties will make them more careful. S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS
for Consumers Association of Penang