PETALING JAYA: Property buyers will benefit when the Homebuyers Claims Tribunal is able to hear claims involving up to RM50,000 with a proposed amendment to the Housing Development Act. 

Currently, the tribunal is authorised to hear claims of up to RM25,000 only. 

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said in his keynote address at the National Property and Housing Summit 2006 yesterday that some housing developers continued to run foul of the law by delaying their projects, but they would face tougher action in future.  

Ong said some developers continued to show disrespect to the Homebuyers Claims Tribunal that was formed in 2002. 

RELAXING: (From left) Asli CEO Datuk Dr Michael Yeoh, Asli chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, Ong and Real Estate and Housing Developers Association president Ng Seing Liong attending the housing summit in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

“The tribunal was set up to provide an avenue for disputes between buyers and housing developers to be heard where no lawyers are present and where facts are plain to see,” said Ong. 

Ong said some developers refused to comply with the tribunal's awards, which is an offence, and that these developers only started taking action after the ministry decided to drag them to court. 

“The developers then come to the ministry and beg us to withdraw the charge, saying that they had paid whatever was necessary to the housebuyers,” he added. 

Ong said the ministry would dismiss such requests, as it was unfair and would be sending out the wrong message. 

“Since the tribunal was set up, 16 housing developers have been prosecuted in court for non-compliance with the tribunal's awards.”  

He said developers would be blacklisted if they had delayed projects, were fined more than RM10,000 or were repeat offenders.