No favours for developers who fail to deliver on time
NST 26/04/2004

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - Housing developers who cannot deliver their units on time should not expect any sympathy from Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

The Housing and Local Government Minister said such developers would be penalised for breaching their sale and purchase agreement.

He said he would never use his ministerial powers to exempt errant developers from paying fines for late delivery.

"The developers must make sure they are well prepared before marketing their homes," he said at a Press conference after opening the Federation of Goldsmiths and Jewellers Association of Malaysia's 27th annual general meeting here today.

"We don't want them to come up with excuses such as cash-flow problems, shortage of workers or building materials to justify their late delivery."

Asked whether late delivery was a serious problem, he said he had received "one or two" complaints and wanted to nip the problem in the bud.

He reminded local authorities to adhere strictly to procedures when receiving applications for certificates of fitness (CFs) for occupancy
from developers.

Local authorities should make sure the documents are in order, and issue letters of acknowledgement to the developers, he added.

By following the procedures, he said local authorities, many of which were one-stop centres for approving CFs, would be able to process the applications faster.