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Five cheated in housing scam
The Malay Mail 26/6/2005
KUALA LUMPUR: Five low- cost house buyers claim they were cheated by a
middleman.
Yesterday, the five buyers of flats under the Hardcore Poor Development
Programme in Taman Intan Baiduri sought help from the MCA Public Service and
Complaint Department.
L. P. Son, 52, said he was approached by the middleman identified as Tan
Thian Lai to buy a low-cost house.
Tan, a vegetable hawker, convinced Son he was well connected with the local
authority and could get the flat at a discount.
"On July 2004, I paid him RM6,300, thinking he could deliver on his
promise," said Son, a construction supervisor.
"After several months, I asked Tan if he could still deliver the house.
He convinced me he could."
Last December, Tan gave Son a letter from Kuala Lumpur City Hall approving
his application.
Son said the letter looked dubious as there was no signature on it.
Son checked with City Hall on March 25 and discovered that his name was not
on their list.
"I asked Tan to return my money but he kept giving excuses," said Son.
Department head Datuk Michael Chong advised the public who could not afford
a house to register with the local authorities.
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