Venice Hill condo buyers in a dilemma

NST 03/03/ 2001

Chong Onn Tack purchased a unit in Venice Hill Condominium and Golf Resort's Tower 10 during the economic crisis of 1998 paying RM155,000.  It was substantial discount from the developer's initial launch price in 1995, but even then,Chong claims a major bank was unwilling to offer him a housing loan facility as "the developer had failed to provide the documentation necessary for the loan approval".

After shopping around for a financier, he finally found a finance company that offered him a RM139,000 loan.

He has been servicing his interest portion for the past two years, but is unsure whether to continue doing so, following a High Court judgement in January by Datuk Dr R.K. Nathan which voided the sale and purchase agreement of another buyer of Venice Hill's Tower Nine.

Aside from the legality issue of Tower 10, another owner, Phua Seng Kok said promises by the developer, Venice Hill Resort Living Sdn. Bhd. to provide common facilities in the development as stated in the sales brochure have yet to be delivered.

Phua added all attempts to contact the developer to discuss various issues have failed.

Frustrated with the lack of response from the developer, several residents recently approached the House Buyers' Association (HBA) for asssistance.

In a statement issued to the New Straits Times, the association said the Ministry of  Housing and Local Government (MOH) and other related Government agencies should be called upon to investigate the allegations. 

The association said police reports may be lodged.

 "To reflect transparency, MOH should respond to the media with their findings," it said.