Blacklisting for developers who don’t advertise
Kayveas: They're trying to hide facts
The Sunday Star 28/04/2002 By Choong Kwee Kim 

PENANG: First it was a case of developers advertising without permits. 

Now, according to Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk M. Kayveas, there were some who did not advertise, after obtaining the permits, to allegedly hide certain facts from potential buyers. 

He said that developers who failed to advertise would be blacklisted and have their licences suspended. 

Developers who obtained licences and advertising permits from the ministry were required to advertise their projects to inform potential housebuyers, he said. 

“We have the usual problem of developers advertising without permits and now we have a different problem where some developers have permits but refuse to advertise. 

“If they don’t advertise, they are trying to hide the fact about the bumiputra quota and are not willing to offer the 10% discount (5% in Penang) to bumiputra buyers,” he told reporters after a ceremony to hand over 10 hydrants to Balik Pulau villages at Kampung Naran community hall in Batu Maung. 

Kayveas said the ministry, upon receiving a complaint, would take immediate action by suspending the licence of the errant developer and initiating investigations. 

He suggested that the 5% discount offered to bumiputra housebuyers in Penang be increased and standardised to 10% as in other states. 

“We have states doing things their own way and local councils following their own regulations which is something I can’t understand. 

“Malaysia is small, so why can’t we have the same regulations for all citizens?” he said. 

On the grouses of Penang developers asked to make special contributions to the state for unsold bumiputra units before getting clearance for application of certificates of fitness, Kayveas said: “The ministry won’t get involved in this as it is a state matter.”