Unit to ensure centres work well
20/06/2007 The Star

PETALING JAYA: An inspectorate unit will be set up to look into the feedback and problems of the one-stop centres (OSCs) for fast-track approval of housing projects.

The unit, under the Housing and Local Government Ministry, is to ensure that the OSCs would serve the people more efficiently, said its minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

It will help rectify the problems and complaints to ensure that the OSCs function effectively, he said after his surprise visit to the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council here yesterday.

Ong had visited the OSCs in several other local authorities including Malacca to ensure the setting up of the centres was on track.

He said his ministry officers would visit the OSCs from time to time to observe their progress.

On April 13, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced comprehensive changes to the property development sector as part of the moves to improve the public delivery system.

Among the initiatives was the setting-up of OSCs in every state for quick approvals for housing projects, replacing the Certificate of Fitness for Occupancy with the Certificate of Completion and Compliance and giving incentives to developers who adopt the build-then-sell concept.

Ong said all 92 local authorities and three federal territories had set up OSCs within two months of the announcement by Abdullah.

During the briefing with MPAJ officers, Ong urged them to be prepared for bigger challenges and tasks with the setting up of the OSCs.