Councils have a deadline to give out CFs
The Star 05/11/2001 By Nick Leong

SUBANG JAYA: Local authorities must issue certificates of fitness for occupation (CFs) within 14 days if the seven relevant technical departments have given approvals. 

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said CFs would be considered as having been issued once the 14-day period lapsed. 

“The National Council of Local Authorities has approved a policy stating that if all the seven technical departments found all their conditions have been met, meaning the E Form has been completed, local authorities have to respond within 14 days. 

“If they cannot (respond during the period), it is considered the CFs have been issued,’’ he said after opening the Ci Hang Rumah Bakti and Ci Hang Welfare Association Operation Centre at Kg Subang here yesterday. 

Ong said CFs were meant to guarantee the safety of residents. 

“But at the same time, local authorities should be practical,’’ he added. 

Responding to questions on why CFs had not been issued to more than 10,000 residential units at Putrajaya, Ong said checks showed the developer and the local authority were from the same group. 

“The houses are built by Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd and the local authority in charge of issuing the CFs is Purajaya Corporation. 

“They are the developer and they are also the local authorities. 

“I do not know why there is a delay (in issuing the CFs) but I am sure they can thrash things out between themselves,’’ he said. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said on Saturday many of the completed residential units at Putrajaya had not been issued with CFs. 

He said the delays were causing a problem to unit owners who wanted to move into their new homes. 

Ong added that the seven technical departments were also given a timeframe to give their approvals or objections. 

“If the submission is complete, they are usually given a month or sometimes, 14 days to respond,’’ he said. 

On local authorities that consistently failed to issue CFs on time, Ong said the state government could take disciplinary action against them.