By-Laws Governing Earth Works May
Be Amended
bernama.com.my 5/4/2005
KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- The Housing and Local Government
Ministry is taking steps to amend the By-Laws Governing Earth Works to
raise the maximum fine from the present RM2,000 to RM20,000 for major
offences.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the move was taken to ensure
developers would give more attention to their responsibilities when
undertaking development projects.
"We are looking at 10 times more than the present amount," he told
reporters when asked to comment further on the matter which was raised
during the winding up of the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal
address at the Dewan Rakyat Tuesday.
Earlier in his winding up, Ong said the ministry would only amend the
By-Laws Governing Earth Works because other acts such as the Town and
Country Planning Act (Act 172) and the Roads, Drains and Buildings Act
(Act 133) were still effective.
He said that based on Act 172, those violating regulations while
undertaking development projects could be fined a maximum of RM500,000 or
jailed for two years or both, while the Act 133 provided for a maximum
fine of RM50,000 or five years jail or both.
The issue on the maximum fine of merely RM2,000 was raised in the case on
the development project at Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam. However, the developer
concerned had been sentenced under the provision in Act 172 and Act 133.
Meanwhile, on the appointment of council members in the Local Authorities
(PBT), Ong, who conceded that it had weaknesses, said what was needed was
merely to improve the system.
He said, however, the weaknesses could not be made the basis for the
government to revive the election process in choosing PBT council members
as was the practice previously.
Ong also lashed out at Tan Kok Wai (DAP-Cheras) who stood up on several
occasions on point of clarification without checking his facts.
"Yang Berhormat must have the correct fact. It was the deputy minister,
and not the parliamentary secretary, who responded to the question
pertaining to the selection of PBT (council members) last week," he said.
Tan had said that the reply given by the ministry's parliamentary
secretary on the issue over the selection of PBT council members last week
was most unsatisfactory. -- BERNAMA |
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