Loan paid up, but house isn’t hers

05/11/2007 The Star

JOHOR BARU: Cleaner Wai Keng Chan, who bought a low-cost house at RM22,000 in 1989 in Skudai, thought everything was settled when she banked in her final monthly instalment for her home loan after eight years.

But her relief was short-lived because a prolonged nightmare was to follow.

Despite a sale and purchase agreement having been signed, Wai has no rights over the property, as according to her lawyer, the previous owner had not signed a transfer of ownership letter.

With a decade having passed, Wai is still running all around trying to get the matter resolved.

Yesterday, the 46-year-old divorcee turned to Bandar Baru Tampoi MCA chief Michael Tay Chee Boon for help.

Wai, who lived in Kangkar Pulai previously, said she was introduced to the owner by a village head.

She said she signed some papers before a lawyer, claiming the latter told her the ownership would only be transferred when she settled had settled the owner's bank loan.

Placing her complete trust in him, the illiterate Wai did not ask any further.

When she paid the final instalment in May 1997, she went to see the lawyer but was told that she could not own the house yet.

“He said he needed the owner to sign the transfer of ownership letter before he could proceed, but I did not know where he was.

“I don’t know what to do. I can only rely on him (the owner) to help me solve the problem but so many years have passed and there is still no development,” she said, adding that the house was left vacant.

“Unless I can find the owner, the lawyer told me he could not do anything,” said Wai.

Tay urged one Chong Peng Howa, 49, to contact him at 019-777 8935 to assist in the matter.