CF for housing project after 12 years

The Star 16/08/2002

BUTTERWORTH: After nearly 12 years, buyers of the Wisma Telaga flats here can finally look forward to moving into their new homes.

The project, completed in 1991, was finally issued with a Certificate of Fitness (CF) by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council early this month.

For the 84 housebuyers who had to endure much heartache, the long wait was finally over – thanks to the intervention of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Housing Minister Datuk Ong Ka Ting.

Announcing the good news yesterday, Bagan Jermal assemblyman Datuk Dr Sak Cheng Lum said the the CF was issued on Aug 1.

He, however, said housebuyers must attend a special meeting, organised by the Wisma Telaga Housebuyers Association, at SRKC Chung Hwa 1 at 11am on Sunday to iron out certain issues.

The National Housing De-partment had agreed to carry out repair works but housebuyers must each chip in RM2,000 which could be paid in instalments, he said.

“It is, therefore, important for housebuyers to attend the meeting to find out what they need to do,’’ he said.

The five-storey Wisma Telaga was constructed in 1987 and completed four years later, following which housebuyers were given vacant possession.

However, the council refused to issue the CF on the ground that the developer did not meet certain conditions and the matter was later brought to court, causing a delay of another nine years.

Housebuyers then sought assistance from the authorities including Abdullah as a last resort.

The matter was finally resolved but years of neglect left the building in a sorry state, prompting the National Housing Department to step in to help.

Association chairman Omar Syed Abu Tahir said the council issued the CF after it was satisfied that the building met the stipulated conditions.

“Housebuyers can obtain the keys to their respective units next week. We need to contact all the housebuyers because some had changed their addresses over the years,’’ he said.