Temporary certificates of fitness pledge

26/06/2003 New Straits Times

PURCHASERS of the low-cost Desa Pakar apartments in Salak South New Village are crying foul over a nine-year delay in getting their Certificates of Fitness for their units.

Their sales and purchase agreements were signed in 1993 and 1994.

At a recent dialogue with the apartment developer, Langkah Cergas Sdn Bhd, and in the presence of MCA Public Complaints and Government Affair Bureau (Seputeh division) head Banie Chin, the developer promised the buyers that they would receive the Temporary Certificates of Fitness (TCFs) by the middle of August.

“If the TCFs are not handed over in time, we want the developer to pay RM200 monthly to each purchaser as compensation so that they can meet their current house rental or some portion of their bank loans.

“This is until the developer hands over the TCFs,” said the purchasers’ committee chairman, Mark Foo.

Desa Pakar apartments comprises three. A with 193 units of low to medium-cost apartments, Block B with 221 low-cost apartment units and Block C consisting of 60,000 sq ft of commercial space. Since 1995, only 10 per cent of the six-storey commercial complex have been sold.

Langkah Cergas director Yeong Mun Kien said in 1997, the company was affected by financial problems and plans to complete the project were delayed.

“Despite the problems encountered, the apartments were completed in 2001 and buyers were anxious to take over their units upon completion.

“But we were short of cash flow and plans were stalled.

“Times are slightly better now and we are confident of getting the TCFs by the end of July (next month).
“Purchasers can move in definitely by end-August,” he said.

Yeong added that the company still had to “clear” certain requirements of the authorities.

He appealed to the purchasers to put any legal action on hold to allow the company to expedite.