"One-Stop-Centre" Thrust For Improvement In Public Delivery System
13/04/2007 Bernama

PETALING JAYA, April 13 (Bernama) -- The "one-stop-centre" concept practised by some local authorities (PBTs) formed the main thrust of improvements that will be made in the public delivery system at the PBT level.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who made the announcement on the steps to be taken to reduce government bureaucracy at a special press conference here today, said the PBTs will also have in place a panel of experts led by their heads to smoothen and speed up the delivery process under the concept.

The replacement of the CFO (Certificate of Fitness for Occupancy) by the CCC (Certificate of Compliance and Completion) for the handing over of completed structures to buyers of buildings and the provision of a commissioner of buildings were also steps in the right direction to resolve problems between buyers and developers, he said.

"These changes mean processes that used to take three to five years will now be reduced to six months for certain projects like those under the build-and-sell concept, high impact ones, those involving foreign investment and that of the government while for others, approvals will be made within four months," Abdullah said.

Abdullah believed the reduction in the time period for the processes would have a positive effect on the construction industry and also inspire greater confidence among investors and the business community, who had been clamouring for the improvements for a long time and besides it would also translate into cost savings for them.

"The improvements will immediately be felt by housebuyers and the general public. In fact, I believe they (improvements) will help increase the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) as a result of housing projects, factories, buildings and offices being completed faster.

"My hope is not only to see infrastructure development taking place at a faster pace, but the generation of more jobs and income streams for the people from these efforts (improvements).

Abdullah said changing the CFO system to the CCC would be a boon for the construction industry as the former took a long time before vacant possesion of structures was handed over.

Under the CCC system, certified professionals like architects and engineers are given the authority to approve structures for vacant possesion unlike previously where it came under the local authorities.

Abdullah gave the local authorities two months to familiarise themselves with the CCC system as it had already been implemented for new applications to construct buildings.

As to the creation of the commissioner of buildings post, he said the person holding the position would act as a go-between between purchasers of high rise units and their developers or the managements of the buildings involved.

He said the commissioner, in most cases the head of the local authority, would be given powers to solve problems that arise between the managements of high rises and the owners of strata titles and also settle disputes in cases where the titles have yet to be issued.

He also said that now the issuance of strata titles would be controlled by the federal Land and Mines Department and no longer at the state level.

Buyers now can expect to get their strata titles within 12 months instead of years as previously, he said, adding that he was confident the process could be further shortened to less than six months.

Abdullah said this improvement was very important and timely, especially for buyers of low and medium cost high rise units.

"Problems of maintenance have caused many of such buildings to be poorly managed, which endangered the health and safety of occupants. The commissioner of buildings can ensure such problems are reduced," he said.

To encourage housing developers to opt for the build-and-sell concept, he said the government had agreed to provide several incentives so that they would find it attractive to do so.

They are a waiver of deposit for licence application, the processing of project proposals to be shortened to four months and the developers can replace low cost houses with low-medium cost ones.

Abdullah further reminded the implementors on the importance of the initiatives announced today and the need to ensure their success.

"I believe if the local authorities can be on top of this, over 70 per cent of grouses by investors, businessmen, consumers and the people about the public sector will go away," he said.

The Prime Minister said that after this he would no longer tolerate delays unless it was caused by the developers themselves.

"I do not want to see decisions left hanging, applicants have a right to get clear answers for their projects, whether 'yes' or 'no' within the stipulated time frame," said Abdullah.

He also asked the Housing and Local Government Ministry to develop a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) system to evaluate the performance of local authorities in a holistic way as had been pledged under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

-- BERNAMA