Developers blamed for strata title delay

NST 23/06/2003

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22:  Delays in obtaining strata titles are caused by developers who fail to provide the correct documents for fast processing of the applications, said Land and Co-operative Development Minister Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam today.

Kasitah denied the ministry delayed the process and put the blame on developers who did not furnish adequate information — one of the main snags faced by the ministry in issuing strata titles.

"There is nothing we can do when some developers do not apply, while in other cases, the ministry had to request the applications after home and building owners complain," he said at a Press conference after opening the annual general meeting of Koperasi Serbaguna Anak-Anak Selangor Berhad.

The ministry also faces other problems, including developers who failed to include architectural plans.

"A number of old buildings aged between 30 and 40 years do not have strata titles as there were no architect's plans. "This makes it difficult for the ministry to take action." Kasitah said a committee chaired by Deputy Land and Co-operative Development Minister Dr Tan Kee Kwong and Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui were looking at ways to issue strata titles for these old buildings.

"The committee has incorporated a few related agencies, including private surveyors and the architect association, to come up with a concrete proposal to consider reproducing a plan for old buildings to enable strata titles to be issued," he said.

Describing the problem as "unique and specific", Kasitah said he was unaware of the number of cases involved but described the situation as "beginning to be serious".