Buyers knock shoddy work by developer

The Sun 9/9/2003 By Peter Khiew

Ipoh: Twelve house owners have lodged complaints with the Perak Consumers Association (PCA), voicing dissatisfactin with the houses they bought in Medan Klebang Restu, 10km from here.

They said the houses, costing betwen RM35,000 and RM65,000 each, have wall and structural defects.

They also complain of uneven tilling, poor paint works and hairline cracks.

Businessman Ponnaiah Victor Raseih, 32, who bought his house two years ago, said it is virtually impossible to fix structural defects as the whole row of houses would be involved.

"I have complained to the developer on the hairline cracks and cement joints on certain parts of the house. They took action immediately but when mentioned the problem of the structures, they  have not responded.

"The least they can do is to inform me of the remedial actions they will be taking," said Ponnaiah, who is also spokesman for the group.

"Something has to be done by the developer or the authorities. All of us are from the lower-income group who bought the houses with our years of savings. What happens if more problems crop up after we have moved in?"

Peter Chen, director of project developer Cyberland, said the houses were checked for defects before their keys were handed to buyers.

He said the very fact that certificates of fitness and occupancy certificates had been issued by relevant authorities indicate that the houses are in good condition.

"We have actually asked Ponnaiah to write in to us detailing the defects in his house but until today we have yet to receive his letter."

PCA president Abdul Rahman Said Alli said the developer has two options.

They can either rectify the problems by tearing down the structures and rebuilding them, or the association will refer the matter to court, asking it to rescind the sales and purchase agreement and demanding compensation for the buyers, he said.