Developers say architects must be responsible
12/04/1993 MM
THE Housing Developers
Association says architects should be held responsible for issuing the
certificate of completion for houses that do not meet the standard of
completion as stated in the guidelines for architects. President Datuk Teo
Chiang Kok said the Board of Architects Malaysia (PAM) has more clout in
this matter as it has the power to deregister errant members.
MIA: Self-policing may end
13/04/1993 BT
THE present practice of
professionals "policing" themselves is in danger of being done away with if
they continue to show that they cannot restrain themselves from straying
from the straight and narrow, the Malaysian Institute of Architects has
warned. In acknowledging that the "unprofessional" conduct of professionals
has become rather prevalent, it expresses the fear that if professionals
fail to adhere strictly to their professional codes of conduct and ethics
and carry out their work responsibly, "outside forces may be brought to
bear, to police and countercheck the performance of the professional".
New act not
needed 13/04/1993 MM By Nurazah Ismail
THE Housing and Local Government Ministry feels it is not necessary to
have a Housebuyers Act as the present Housing Developers (Control and
Licensing) Regulations is sufficient. Its Minister, Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh,
said yesterday as long as developers comply with the laws and regulations,
no problems will arise.
Seek court order advice
14/04/1993 MM
HOUSE buyers have the
right to seek a court order against a housing developer who contravenes the
sale and purchase agreement that holds up delivery of houses to buyers. Mr
Yu Kee Su, confidential secretary to the Housing and Local Government
Minister, advised housebuyers to form a committee when their houses are not
delivered on time.
States say `yes' to stricter laws for control on high-rise
buildings
16/04/1994 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. - State Governments today agreed to laws enabling more
stringent control of high-rise buildings by the authorities to ensure
their safety. Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh
said the amendments to the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, drawn
up in an effort to prevent the recurrence of the Highland Towers tragedy,
were set to be tabled during the current meeting of the Dewan Rakyat.
Names of all parties to be recorded under amendments
16/04/1994 MM
THE names of all engineers, contractors and site supervisors involved in
high-rise construction projects have to be recorded with the respective
local authorities under proposed amendments to the Street, Drainage and
Building Act 1974. A proper record of those directly involved in the
construction would make them more accountable in the event of a tragedy
such as a building collapse, said Housing and Local Government Minister
Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh.
Council gives nod to building Act amendments
16/04/1994 BT By Lokman Mansor
THE National Council of Local Authorities has accepted the proposed
amendments to the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, aimed at
ensuring the safety of all buildings five-storeys and above, either
completed or under construction. Housing and Local Government Minister
Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said the amendments were proposed to ensure the
safety and stability of tall buildings, their construction sites and
surrounding environment.
Pressured!
19/04/1993 MM
SOME housing developers are alleged to be pressuring architects to issue
`premature' certificates of completion for their projects so that they can
avoid paying latedelivery penalties. This allegation was made by MP for
Bukit Bintang Wee Choo Keong and several house-buyers following a Malay Mail
Insight on defect-ridden houses last Monday.
15 projek bangunan tinggi diarah henti
21/04/1994 BH
KEMENTERIAN Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan mengarahkan 15 projek bangunan
tinggi dan di lereng bukit di Pulau Pinang dihentikan sementara waktu,
kata timbalan menterinya, Daud Taha. Projek itu, masing-masing terletak di
Paya Terubong (empat), Sungai Ara (satu), Bandar Baru Feringghi (dua),
Tanjung Bunga (dua), Relau (dua), Jalan Gertak Sanggol (satu), Greenlane (satu)
dan Batu Uban (dua).
MPPJ will not get involved in this dispute
22/04/1993 MM
THE PETALING Jaya
Municipal Council will not get involved in the dispute between Abinas
Enterprise Sdn Bhd, the developer for University Towers, and residents of
Section 11. Council president Iskandar Astar described the dispute as a
private affair which should be settled amicably between the two parties.
PAM to look into false certs case
22/04/1993 MM
PERSATUAN ARKITEK MALAYSIA (PAM) will investigate the conduct of the
architect accused of issuing false certificates of completion on a housing
project in Taman Bukit Kajang. PAM president Jimmy Lim said the case would
be discussed by its housing and practice committee next month in response to
complaints from two housebuyers.
Board to act
23/04/1993 MM
THE Board of Architects will investigate the architect who was accused by
two housebuyers of issuing a `premature' certificate of vacant possession
for a housing project in Taman Bukit Kajang. A Board spokesman said they
will ask him to clarify the accusation and if there is a case, they will
form an investigation committee.
Bankrupt twist to Section 52 project
23/04/1993 NST-CITYX
THE controversy surrounding the RM400 million project to redevelop Section
52 in Petaling Jaya has taken on a new twist - a senior executive of the
financier-cum-contractor company is a bankrupt. He was declared a bankrupt
by the Ipoh High Court in 1988 following an ex-parte application by a bank.
Housing bank to be set up
24/04/1993 NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri. - The Cabinet has approved in principle the setting up of
a housing bank to provide loans to developers and buyers of low-cost houses.
The move is aimed at sustaining the growth of the housing industry and to
enable those from the lower income group to own houses.
Nod for move to turn shophouses into lots
24/04/1993 NST-CITYX
SHAH Alam Municipal
Council has approved an application from Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS)
to convert two shophouse projects in Section 18 and Section 19 into shops.
The full board meeting yesterday approved the conversion of 48 two- storey
shophouses in Section 18, and 66 three-storey shophouses and 32 two-storey
shophouses in Section 19 into shoplots.
Don't take us lightly
24/04/1993 MM
CITY HALL has lashed out
at contractors and developers who still fail to observe strict rules on
construction procedures and safety during a recent check by the authority.
Press Officer Rita Ahmad warned the parties not to take lightly the
authority's reminders to adhere to its regulations
More than a housing bank may be required to spur low-cost
sector
26/04/1993 NST
A HOUSING bank might be the answer to the financial problems faced by both
buyers and builders of low-cost units. But will it be the right fillip to
galvanise this sector that has remained sluggish over the past 25 years
regardless of the special schemes and incentives introduced by the
Government? The record that we may rely on for an answer is dismal. The
Fifth Malaysia Plan (FMP) set the target of 495,000 low-cost units. Less
than a third was built. Learning from that exerience, the authorities
lowered their projection for the Sixth Malaysia Plan (SMP) to 343,800 units.
Call for separate lawyers in house deals
26/04/1993 MM
REGULATIONS should be drawn up to disallow the use of the same lawyer by
housebuyers and developers. DAP MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw, who made the
call yesterday, said the Housing Ministry should not allow lawyers to
represent both developer and housebuyers as this could lead to conflict of
interest.
Unhappy over `lost' areas
29/04/1993 MM
THE Petaling District Council will lose 1,520 hectares with at least 35,000
property holdings to three local authorities under a proposed structural
plan. The plan which has been completed by the State Urban and Rural
Planning Department will "farm out" the area to the Petaling Jaya and Shah
Alam Municipal Councils and the Hulu Langat District Council.
Collapsed block: Council awaits word
30/04/1993 NST-CITYX
THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council is awaiting a reply from the Housing and
Local Government Ministry as to whether a collapsed apartment block in Taman
Bukit Permai can be allowed to be rebuilt. Council president Abdul Karim
Munisar said the council had written to the ministry for a directive as the
special committee set up to investigate the collapse in September last year
did not make any recommendation on the matter.
