Volunteer lawyers to help house buyers

Malay Mail 06/09/2004

Kuala Lumpur: The city's "legal eagles" are helping aggrieved house buyers with free service yet again.

A group of 15 lawyers, each with 10 years' experience, is volunteering to help 29 house buyers of the Taman Fadason housing scheme in Jinjang, Kepong, in an on-going battle with the scheme's developers at the Home Buyer Claims Tribunal.

The National House Buyers Association of Malaysia (HBA) has arranged for the lawyers to help aggrieved house buyers free.

On Aug 14 last year, 12 lawyers helped house buyers by acting on their behalf when the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard an application for judicial review by a housing developer, Puncakdana Sdn Bhd, against the tribunal and 50 buyers.

HBA secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said the developers of the project in Jinjang were seeking a judicial review of the tribunal's recent decision that they compensate the buyers for late delivery.

He said: "The financially spent buyers who sought redress through the Tribunal will be dragged into another legal battle which they feel is a financial burden.

"Most of them have limited financial resources having spent most of it acquiring their new homes."

He said the HBA decided to help them as part of its mission to educate house buyers on their rights, and to protect them against unfair practises of developers.

"The last thing the buyers want is to be involved in court cases which result in them spending their prime years chasing developers.

"Buyers should not be made to endure prolonged suffering," he said.

One of the lawyers, Andy Wong, said: "We are strong supporters of the HBA and its mission to "Strive For House Buyers".

"This is why we have come forward to offer our legal services to the buyers of the housing project in Kepong."

He said that the judicial review hearing will take place on Sept 29 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.