House keys only after CCC is issued
02/03/2007 The Star

Ong: Changes made to protect house buyers


PONTIAN: Developers can only hand over keys to house owners after the issuance of Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) under changes made to the Housing Development Act which will become effective in April.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the changes to the Act were made to protect house buyers from irresponsible developers.

“The situation is not that bad, just a small number of black sheep. But we cannot let this happen, even if the number is small.

“They hand over possession without obtaining the CFO (Certificate of Fitness for Occupation) and the house buyers cannot move in,” he said, adding that the developers would give all sorts of excuses.

“We cannot accept their excuses. Developers must plan carefully before starting a project,” he said at the MCA Chinese New Year open house in Pekan Nenas.

The CCC will replace the CFO in April. Currently, the CFO is issued by local authorities while the CCC will be issued by engineers and architects.

Ong also congratulated new Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong on his promotion.

He said there were plenty of talented Chinese Malaysians such as Yong, the first Chinese to hold the post.

“Over the past seven years, MCA has helped some 1,500 10A1 students to obtain scholarships. Almost half of them have graduated, but some opted to remain overseas.

“Companies should bring them back to serve the country,” he said.