Fomca president Professor Datuk Hamdan Adnan said there were inadequate safeguards to protect the interest of buyers under the current sell-and-build concept. "Purchasers are at the mercy of developers when there are major defects in houses after buyers had moved in," he said.

Hamdan said such problems could be overcome if the authorities check construction sites periodically before developers collect progress payments from buyers.

"There will be no delay in the issuance of certificate of fitness by local governments if everything is in order;" he said.

Hamdan said this in response to a statement by Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting that the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council would be the first local authority to adopt the new procedures in issuing CFs.

Ong said local governments would have to issue CFs within 14 days after all documents were submitted.

Hamdan said it was baffling why only now a deadline was imposed when in the past it could be up to 24 months before a CF was issued.

"House buyers end up losers. They could not move in because developers did not satisfy the requirements of the local government and purchasers had to continue servicing bank loans."

"Even after the CF was issued, the homes are not necessarily built ac-cording to specifications. Most developers wash their hands if there are problems after the defect liability period," he said.

Hamdan said the 14-day period should be a final process for CFs to be issued before buyers occupy their homes.

"It will be a futile exercise to issue CFs without seeing that quality homes are built from the day construction begins," he said.

Meawhile National House Buyers Association secretary-general Chang Kim Loong urged Ong to consider it making a law to ensure that houses are only delivered after the developers had obtained the CFs from the local authorities.

"This is more meaningful to buyers so that they could move immediately after taking possession of keys to their homes."

"After all, it is only a 14-day wait." he said.

Chang said the association has also urged Ong to review a proposal on self-certification by architects.

"Complete deregulation only works when all parties learn to respect the rights of others," he said.

Chang proposed that the relevant government departments be allowed to conduct certification as this also involved the safety of house buyers.