CFs will be issued faster, says Ka Ting
The Star 16/10/2001 By Foo Yee Ping, Lee Yuk Peng, Sim
Leoi Leoi and Clarence Chua
CERTIFICATES of Fitness (CFs) will now be issued faster and with more
facilities assured, apart from water and electricity supply, said
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.
The CFs would be issued only when the units were given certification by
architects after developers fulfilled requirements set by Tenaga
Nasional Bhd, Water Department, Works Department, Fire and Rescue
Department, sewerage services, Drainage and Irrigation Department and
Telekom Malaysia Bhd.
Winding up the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Bill, Ong said
the move would protect consumer interests as there were cases of
developers giving vacant possession with only water and power.
To a question by Lee Kah Choon (BN – Jelutong) on whether developers’
deposits would be kept until the CFs were issued or until the expiry of
the defects liability period, Ong said he foresaw the issuance of CFs
before the expiry of the defects liability period.
When developers were issued with Form E by the technical departments,
which meant they fulfilled the technical requirements, local authorities
would be required to issue the CFs within 14 days, he said.
An amendment to the Bill enabled developers to report to the ministry if
local authorities delayed the issuance of CFs without valid reasons, he
said.
With the amendment, he said the ministry could monitor the progress of
housing projects as developers were required to report to the ministry
twice a year.
“This is to ensure the projects were progressing according to schedule,”
he said, adding that the ministry could take court action against errant
developers.
Earlier, during the debate, a backbencher questioned whether the bill
was retrospective in nature to deal with abandoned projects.
Citing abandoned projects in Pahang, Liow Tiong Lai (BN – Bentong) said
there were cases where construction had ceased seven years ago.
Liow said that developers should be compelled to pay deposits based on
value or size of projects.
An amendment to the bill requires developers to pay a minimum deposit of
RM200,000.
Liow also questioned whether the bill would protect those staying in
commercial lots. He said, for example, Pudu Plaza residents were facing
various problems.
Lim Hock Seng (DAP – Bagan) raised the plight of Penang developers who
needed the approval of authorities to release unsold bumiputra lots.
He claimed they were required to pay 30% of the price of the units to
UDA Holdings before state authorities issued release letters.
“Otherwise, certificates of fitness would not be issued for the units,”
he said, adding that this was an abuse of power.
Teresa Kok (DAP – Seputeh) said the Government should compel developers
to carry out geological surveys pertaining to land suitability before
houses were built.
“This will prevent landslides like that in Puchong and Pengkalan
(Ipoh),” she said.
Ng Lip Yong (BN – Batu) questioned what the ministry did with
developers’ deposits.
“Will the ministry pay interest for the deposits?” he asked.
He said the RM200,000 deposit might be too hefty for developers who
built a limited number of houses in rural areas. |
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