PUTRAJAYA: Developers are cheats if they hand over keys to buyers without getting all the approvals from relevant departments.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said all mentris besar and chief ministers had been told to make sure developers know the importance of this ruling.

"Giving keys for the sake of evading responsibility is cheating. "It is up to local authorities concerned to act against such developers.

"They (local authorities) must refer to the existing laws and enforce them accordingly," Abdullah said after chairing the National Local Government Council Meeting
here yesterday.

Also present was Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh.

Developers must get approvals from the relevant departments before local authorities could accept their submission for applications for certificates of fitness (CFs).

The departments include Fire and Rescue, Health, Sewerage Services, Public Works, Drainage and Irrigation, Town and Country Planning, Landscaping,
Waterworks, and Tenaga Nasional.

Upon accepting the applications the local authorities must issue the CFs within two weeks.

Dr Ting had told buyers not to accept the keys if developers failed to prove local authorities have accepted the CF applications.

Abdullah also said developers would not be exempted from allocating 10% of the land for open space.

He said this was to ensure there was recreational space like parks for children.

Abdullah said local authorities must not make use of the open space for other purposes like setting up stalls.