New home warranty

The Star 8/5/2006

KLANG: Property developer SP Setia Bhd has set a new benchmark by raising the warranty period against defects on its houses from the standard 18 months to three years.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting called SP Setia's initiative a brave and important milestone for the housing industry “for it enhances overall standards.”

Asked if the current 18-month warranty period under the Housing Development Act would be raised in line with SP Setia's move, Ong said the matter would be studied.

“If a company is confident enough to offer 36 months of warranty, it prompts me to seriously consider if the move could be done by other developers,” he said when launching SP Setia’s home warranty programme here yesterday.

Ong said developers must move with the times and deliver quality property or they would find themselves phased out by discerning buyers.

SP Setia group managing director Datuk Seri Liew Kee Sin said the 18-plus-18 months warranty was the company's commitment to responsibility.

He added that the company could not fully guarantee defect-free workmanship as the quality of foreign workers was inconsistent.

At a separate function, Ong said the Fire and Rescue Department would get extra helicopters under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and priority would be given to Sabah and Sarawak.

“It will take time for a helicopter to fly from here to Sabah and Sarawak and time is precious especially during an emergency,” he said.

Ong also said the salaries of the department's staff with SRP qualifications had been raised.

“We will also continue to offer better benefits to the staff such as providing quarters at every fire station,” he told reporters at the annual Firefighters Run held in conjunction with National Firefighters Day.

About 4,700 people including seven disabled people from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Britain took part.