Thumbs up to City Hall's e-application
19/01/2007 NST

KUALA LUMPUR: City Hall’s newly-launched e-application system for building renovations has received the thumbs up.

Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) president Ng Seing Liong said the system would put City Hall on par with other local authorities in developed countries.

"The system was implemented in Sydney several years ago and it has been very successful."

He said City Hall was moving in the right direction as members of the public, developers and contractors could now check the status of their applications on-line.

"It will cut red tape and improve the delivery system."

Asrul Izham, a project engineer with Emas Kang, is relieved that City Hall has introduced the e-application system.

"It can get really difficult tracking down my clients’ applications. Sometimes I have to wait three months to get approval."

With the online system, Asrul will be able to keep track of his application just with the click of the mouse.

"It can be tedious going to the local authority every week just to check on the status of my application," he said, adding that other local authorities should also adopt the system.

"It is really convenient for developers, contractors and house owners. I do not see why other local authorities should not implement it."

House Buyers Association honorary secretary-general Chang Kim Loong urged other local authorities to emulate City Hall’s move.

"We support it because it improves the delivery system," he said.

However, he hoped that the Federal Territories Ministry will include additional details on the portal such as the development order, certificate of fitness and status of housing projects.

"With this information, house buyers can further protect themselves as they will be able to judge whether a property in a certain area is worth buying," he added.