Project approvals in 28 days
The Sun 31/10/2005 By Terence Fernandez

PETALING JAYA: Twenty-eight days -- that's how long it will take for developers to get building plan approvals after an E-Government project is implemented in Selangor next year.

The project puts all paperwork for buildings and renovation applications online, making the process transparent as well.

Developed by Intecture Sdn Bhd, the system, with a working title of "Protocol", not only promises approvals within 28 days, it also promotes transparency by doing away with paperwork. Progress of applications can also be traced online.

"Documents are submitted electronically and only selected officers will access them, using a biometric security system," said Intecture CEO Puvan J. Selvanathan.

"So if the development order is delayed, one glance into the system will tell you where it is stuck and at whose desk," he told theSun.

Residents can also register onto the system for free at their respective local authority. They will receive immediate notification via e-mail of any development occurring in their neighbourhood.

"People can also find out if their neighbour's renovations are approved. Simply because, if your neighbour had gone through the proper channels, you would have received notification," said Puvan.

The system costs RM113 million which includes supplying hardware and software, training officers and maintenance for 10 years.

It will not cost taxpayers a single sen as Intecture is footing the bill.

Developers need only pay an extra 0.1% in current planning and building approval fees. This, said Puvan, will work out to about RM90,000 for every 200 units of houses.

"Although developers now pay RM60,000, they have to wait for months.

"Taking into account the delay and the paperwork involved, by paying a little more, they are saving a lot of time and money," he added.

To prove his point, Puvan said a survey done with developers revealed that the waiting period for development and planning approvals take between 380 and 900 days.

The system will be managed by Intecture and state commercial arm Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd.

It is set to be introduced in Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam and Klang in June next year, followed by Sepang, Ampang, Kajang and Selayang in December 2006, while Kuala Langat, Sabak Bernam, Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor will get to use the system in early 2007.

The project is under the supervision of Datuk Ch'ng Toh Eng, the state exco member in charge of multimedia, environment and development of new villages.

Ch'ng said a briefing will be held for all local council presidents in the state after Hari Raya on the implementation of the system.