At the Sarawak State Assembly: Tribunal to deal with grouses on developers
NST 29/11/2006

A HOUSE buyers’ tribunal to deal with complaints against housing developers is being considered by the state government.

The State Housing Ministry is reviewing the State Housing Developers’ Ordinance 1993 so that such a tribunal can be set up.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Abang Johari Tun Openg, said there have been many complaints against developers for shoddy workmanship and failure to meet conditions in the contracts with buyers.

"It is for this reason that my ministry is serious in wanting to set up the tribunal by reviewing the existing ordinance and other relevant laws," he said in reply to points raised during the debate on the 2007 state Budget.

He said since the Housing Developers Ordinance was enforced, his ministry had registered and licensed 514 housing developers.

With the help of the Sarawak Housing Developers’ Association, he said his ministry was monitoring and supervising the operations and performance of the private developers.

Second Minister of Finance Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh denied an allegation by Dominique Ng Kim Ho (PKR-Padungan) that Chief Minister Tan Seri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s spending on aircraft charter services was excessive.

He said the amount spent was not for the chief minister alone, but also to charter aircraft used by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, ministers and assistant ministers travelling on official duties in rural areas.

"The aircraft is also used by government officials in carrying out their duties, such as mapping, rainfall data collection and enforcement," he said.