Disgruntled purchasers want housing project revived
09/06/2008 The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Newly-married IT engineer Kamal Manaf withdrew most of his savings in 1998 to buy a house in Taman Kenanga, Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, and hoped to start a family.

But the developer went bust in 2003, shattering Kamal's dreams.

Now, Kamal is paying hundreds of ringgit each month for a loan he took for a house that does not exist.

He was among the 150 buyers who went to the office of MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong yesterday seeking help to resolve the matter.

Most of them complained that they had paid up to 80% for their houses and apartments, which ranged between RM60,000 and RM220,000.

The project, developed by Kumpulan Sepang Utama Sdn Bhd and Lengkap Lagenda Sdn Bhd, began in 1998 and was initially projected to be completed by 2002.

Chong noted that former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Khir Toyo and his sister had also bought units in the development.

At the press conference at Wisma MCA, Chong said that his department, together with the House Buyers Association (HBA) and the Taman Kenanga pro tem committee (comprising purchasers), would meet with the relevant authorities.

“We will also take the matter to Bank Negara and see if the interests charged to the purchasers can be waived, considering the circumstances.

“After that we will also approach Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan for help,” he said.

HBA secretary-general Chang Kim Loong advised the buyers to be patient while the matter was being sorted out.

However, he expressed frustration that the Government, while having in place a requirement for developers to provide biannual reports on their project developments, did not have suitably trained professionals to scrutinise such reports.