Housing ministry to speed up procedures for approval of construction projects

14/12/2002 The Star

THE Housing and Local Government is aiming to speed up the procedure for approval of construction projects via an electronic ecosystem. 

According to Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, the Sepang district council in Selangor has been chosen to carry out a pilot project called virtual approval environment (VAE), built by AsiaBuild Online Sdn Bhd. It is expected to go full-scale in June next year. 

In a nutshell, VAE would electronically replace the cumbersome paperwork for project approvals for the issuance of certificates of fitness to developers. 

“With VAE, the time to approve projects will also be shortened, and the local authorities and district councils can work in a productive and efficient manner,” Ong told a news conference in Sepang after witnessing the signing ceremony between AsiaBuild Online and the Sepang council yesterday.  

“The VAE will also ensure all projects submitted by developers and architects in Sepang meet national standards of safety and technical competence,” Ong said. 

AsiaBuild Online said the VAE would reduce the time taken for project approval by 30%-50% compared with the current procedure. 

Ong said that he expected that by 2010, the construction industry to be advanced in information technology (IT), and all parties involved – contractors, developers, local authorities, state agencies and utility companies – to be technologically competent. Ong, however, did not spell out a timeline for a nationwide rollout of the VAE.  

Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Malaysia (Rehda) national vice-president and Selangor branch chairman Muztaza Moha-mad, while applauding the ministry’s move, said that the ministry should take a holistic approach to the matter, not just throw in an IT-enabler and expect to solve an old-age problem.  

“But, any form of IT is a positive sign. It would be interesting to see the outcome of this project,” he said.