No compensation yet for 80
02/12/2006 The Star

SOME 80 houseowners of the Desa Heights Condominium in Kepong, Selayang, are disappointed that the developer has yet to pay them the awards by the Tribunal for Homebuyers Claims after two years.

The tribunal awarded between RM3,000 and RM8,000 in compensation to the buyers in 2004 for late delivery of their units.

Instead, the developer, Mega Mall Development Sdn Bhd, is seeking a judicial review of the tribunal's decision. The developer filed its case against the tribunal and Lee Wai Thong, who is one of the housebuyers awarded by the tribunal, in the High Court.

Federal Territory MCA youth deputy chairman Yee Poh Ping, who is helping the housebuyers to claim their compensation, said it was disheartening that the developer did not comply with the tribunal's decision.

He said while waiting for the developer to pay the compensation, the case initiated by the developer on the tribunal and Lee had not been moving, as the hearing of the case had been postponed many times since July 19 last year.

“We are still waiting for a date for the hearing. Meanwhile, we also sent many letters to the Housing and Local Government Ministry pleading for its Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting to intervene and arrange a meeting with the developer to resolve this matter. But we have not received any answer from the ministry,” he said at a press conference on Nov 22.

He said the 80 housebuyers had been waiting patiently for relevant action to be taken by the ministry, adding that they were disappointed that the award could not be enforced.

“We have taken all possible legal avenues but no action has been taken against the developer. The housebuyers have placed hope on the monitoring and enforcement division of the ministry,” he said.

Lee said he had to pay more money in legal fees for the case initiated by the developer and that had become a burden to him.