Developer: We will go ahead with project

01/02/2008 The Star By Christina Chin and M. Sivanantha Sharma

PURCHASERS of a housing development in Bukit Tengah in Penang have been assured that the project would be completed and delivered by the middle of next year.

Responding to housing buyers ad-hoc committee chairman Richie Gan’s claims that they had been “left in the lurch” when the project came to a standstill two years ago, a spokesman for the developer said the project was “not abandoned and the company had no intention of running away”.

He urged buyers to “be patient” and said blasting works were currently being conducted.

“Work on the project had to be halted because of red tape. Blasting works were supposed to have started in June last year but the villagers nearby raised concerns.

“It was only in December that the local authorities gave us the green light to proceed. We are now waiting for a permit from the Land Office so we can remove the rocks,” he said, adding that Phase 1 would be completed by the end of this year while Phase 2 would be ready by the middle of next year.

About 30 buyers approached Bukit Tengah assemblyman and state Housing Committee member Ng Siew Lai recently to voice their disappointment over the delay in completing the project. Ng said she would monitor the situation.