3,248 Abandoned Service Apartment Projects Revived

07/07/2004 Bernama.com

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- A total of 3,248 service apartment projects which had remained abandoned for 13 years since 1990 have been revived, Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said Wednesday.

Replying to Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, she said 23,840 people had purchased units in the abandoned projects.

To a question from Lau Yeng Peng (BN-Puchong), Azizah said her ministry was exploring the possibility of introducing amendments to the Housing Developers Act (Licensing and Control) 1966 to protect the interests of service apartment buyers just like the buyers of other houses.

She said the development of service apartments at present was not covered by the Act.

Azizah suggested that the apartment buyers set up a committee to take legal action against the developers for not completing the projects according to the sale and purchase agreement.

Buyers should also negotiate directly with the lending institutions on ways of settling their housing loans, she said.