House buyers 'lack time, money for courts'

26/02/2001 The Star By Clarence Chua

Petaling Jaya: Getting court-ordered compensation for late delivery from housing developers only inconveniences house buyers, said complainants who attended a House Buyers Association meeting.

Zulkefly Abdul Samad, a 46-year old lecturer, said the current system of obtaining compensation gave developers the upper hand.

"Going to the courts is time consuming and most house buyers do not have the financial means," he said at a meeting on Saturday.

They were commenting on Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting's statement that the courts were the best way to deal with the issue of compensation.

Complainants who wished to by-pass the courts, said Ong, could do so through the proposed housing tribunal which deals with the claims for units costing RM25,000 and below.

"When buyers fail to pay interest on late payments, developers can delay the handling over of house keys while the purchasers only take the developers to court," as association lawyer said.

Association chairman Datuk Zainuddin Bachik said the tribunal was of little use.

"The idea is commendable but even low cost apartments now cost more than that amount," he said.