Strict procedures in issuing compliance, completion certs

utusan.com.my 10/9/2004

KUALA LUMPUR Sept 9 - The Compliance and Completion Certificates (CCC) which replaced the Certificate of Fitness (CF) for completed premises will not be issued without going through a stringent procedure.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the difference between a CCC and CF is that CCCs are signed by professional bodies like architects and engineers while the CF was signed by the Local Authorities.

Through the CCC, the local authorities need not inspect the completed projects, thus eliminating the lenghthy waiting period previously experienced by buyers in obtaining CF for their property, he added.

Ong said a series of discussions were held with the Malaysian Engineering Board, Malaysian Architects Association, Housing Developers Association, House Buyers Association and other relevant authorities.

"The Ministry is always concerned with the safety features, quality and cost of completed buildings. The safety aspect was the main factor in the decision to replace the CF with CCC," he told reporters at the Parliament Lobby.

The replacement of CF with CCC would also eliminate the bureaucracy encountered by developers and buyers as well as become a "check and balance" mechanism for completed projects.

Ong said he was confident and satisfied with the credibility of engineers and architects who are involved in issuing the CCC.

Professional bodies cannot just issue such certificates at will as they are governed by the law, he added.