Housebuyers want more teeth for tribunal
The Malay Mail 10/4/2006 JAD MAHIDIN

KUALA LUMPUR: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has to give more power to the Tribunal for Housebuyers Claims for it to be effective.

In making the call, Housebuyers Action Committee adviser Yee Poh Ping said the tribunal has limited powers.

"It can decide on the rights of housebuyers when they feel they have been short-changed by developers.

"However, the tribunal does not have the power to enforce its awards," said Yee, who is also the Federal Territory MCA Youth deputy chairman.

He said the tribunal also does not have the power to prosecute errant respondents for non-compliance of awards.

"What is the point of housebuyers turning to the tribunal?" he asked.

He was speaking at a Press conference near the Desa Heights Condominium in Kepong on Saturday where some 100 buyers of medium-cost units have been waiting for more than two years for their claims against the developer for late delivery.

"These buyers were awarded between RM3,000 and RM8,000 by tribunal president Datin Jayaletchumi Ramachandran but the developer has now employed a new tactic to not comply with the judgement," he said.

The developer, Mega Mall Development Sdn Bhd, has sought judicial review of the tribunal’s decision and is taking legal action against each housebuyer one at a time.

It brought its first case against housebuyer Lee Wai Thong to the High Court.

The hearing of the case has been postponed seven times from last July 19, and Lee is waiting its eighth hearing scheduled for Nov 9.

"Besides the late delivery and all the unnecessary costs to the housebuyers, this legal action against them by the developer may take 300 years before it can be concluded, judging by the way the case is going," he said.

Yee said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting should help these housebuyers.

"Changes need to be made or more housebuyers will be short-changed by developers who use loopholes in the system for their own benefit," said Yee.

He added that the developer should have voiced its dissatisfaction at the tribunal hearing as both parties were given a chance to present its case.