Home certificates: 10-year wait to move in and no joy in sight
14/05/2007 NST By N.G.C., Muar

I AM one of those buyers who have forked out savings coupled with a bank loan to buy a unit in a four-storey walk-up apartment block in Pangsapuri Robena, Muar, in 1997.

The apartment was completed in 1997 and the developer delivered to me and 16 buyers vacant possession of the units complete with Certificate of Practical Completion, issued by the consultant in early 1998, and keys to the units pending issuance of a Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CFO).

I was told that all the technical departments — Public Works Department, SAJ, TNB, Health Department, Fire and Rescue Department and Telekom — had given their consent to the application of the CFO.

Then, Majlis Perbandaran Muar dropped a bombshell and said the access road was on private property and that the authority had overlooked the matter when approving the project in 1987.

Subsequently, many meetings were held between the developer and state and local authorities. All parties agreed it was the fault of the authorities which approved the layout and building plans in 1987, and again when the developers officially obtained renewals of the plans in 1996.

Whenever there was a meeting at MPM, many of us waited outside for news and each time, we were given assurances that the local authority and the Housing and Local Government Ministry would solve the problem. But we were continually disappointed.

The developer showed us letters to prove that four meetings were held at the ministry level, including one conducted by its deputy minister.

Each time, they promised to solve the problem, including issuance of temporary certificate of fitness pending acquisition of land for roads, but we are still waiting. I appeal to the ministry to look into our plight.