CF rule must be enforced after amendment to by-law

Sunday Star 12/06/1999

KUALA LUMPUR: Local authorities must issue certificates of fitness (CFs) for residential units within two weeks when the amended Uniform Building By-Law, 1984, is gazetted by the end of the month.

The amendment was a ruling by the Housing and Local Government Ministry and was endorsed by the Cabinet back in the mid-90s.

It stated that the CF must be issued within two weeks once the developer has secured certification from all relevant departments.

Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh said about 70% of local authorities were abiding by the ruling, so far.

He hoped there would be full compliance when the ruling becomes mandatory soon.

The departments and utilities which developers must get certification from included health, fire and rescue, drainage and irrigation, public works, sewerage services, waterworks, landscaping, and Tenaga Nasional.

"Local authorities must not use other reasons to withhold CFs once the developers obtained the relevant certification," he said.

"With the certification, they must submit a CF application using the standard Borang E," he added.

Dr Ting said developers could only hand over vacant possession (keys) to buyers after their application for CFs were accepted by local authorities.

"CFS must be issued within two weeks from the date of acceptance (of Borang E," he said when contacted here yesterday.

Dr Ting was asked to comment on local authorities withholding CFs or issuing temporary CFs because developers did not fulfill conditions unrelated to those under the ruling.

He said local authorities and developers involved should resolved their problems without burdening housebuyers not even get the basic service that they are paying for," he said.