22/07/09 The Star By SIMON KHOO

KUANTAN: Some 300 housebuyers in Taman Perdana Raya in Karak are in a fix. Despite their houses being completed, they are unable to move in because there is no certificate of fitness for occupation (CF) from the local authorities.

A disgruntled housebuyer M. Krishnan, 43, said he had invested his life-savings in a low-cost apartment and was currently servicing his loan, paying RM520 monthly.

Krishnan said he had signed the sale and purchase agreement in 2003 and the project was supposed to be ready in 2006.

“However, there were many defects and despite lodging many complaints with the authorities, no action has been taken so far.

“We also tried to get the developer on numerous occasions, but every time no management staff was available to meet us. The only person we see there is a clerk,” he said.

Another housebuyer Abdul Aziz Othman said even though the project was completed, it was not safe to move in as a CF had yet to be issued.

Several of them met up with Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk T. Murugiah recently to voice their problem.

Murugiah said he had proposed for the developer to be blacklisted for misleading the public by inserting a statement that the project was “endorsed” by the state government.

“I have informed Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob who had given his blessing for us to take the appropriate action.

“As such, I have directed the state Public Complaints Bureau to submit a recommendation to the Housing and Local Government Ministry to blacklist the developer.

“It is up to the ministry to act,” he said after chairing a meeting on public complaints at the state Public Complaints Bureau headquarters here recently.

Murugiah said the mixed development project was now in limbo.

“I was told that there were many defects, including poor quality materials and workmanship, water seeping out from underground and sewage problems,” he said, adding that he had advised the housebuyers to engage a lawyer to seek compensation from the developer.

The price of properties at the project starts from RM63,000 for a low-cost apartment to RM385,000 for a three-storey office lot.

Attempts by StarMetro to contact the developer’s office were unsuccessful as the line had been disconnected.