19/08/09 The Star

KOTA KINABALU: Developers must practise self-regulation and ensure that the interest of housebuyers are protected, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said.

He said that while there were no reports of abandoned housing projects in Sabah in recent years, he expressed concern that some houses and buildings were of “unacceptable standard” when they were handed over to buyers.

Some houses, he said, were not ready on time as promised under the sale and purchase agreement.

“Developers must not jeapordise the interest of homebuyers, many of whom save for years to invest in a house. Ethics is key element for the industry to regulate itself,” Musa said when launching the Sabah Housing Conference here yesterday.

His speech was read out by state Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor.

Musa said demand for housing in Sabah remained high, especially among the lower and middle income groups.

He also said that federal and state authorities had been aggressively implementing affordable housing schemes throughout the state.