Buyers’ 18-year wait for houses over at last

19/02/2008 The Star By Geetha Krishnan

AFTER an 18-year delay, house buyers in Taman Kantan Permai, Kajang, finally received the keys to their homes on Feb 14.

They signed the sales and purchase (S&P) agreement back in 1990 but the project to build a total of 792 units of low-cost double-storey terrace houses and medium-cost terrace houses came to a halt two years later. The houses cost between RM25,000 to RM51,150.

Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) took over the development in 2005 and revived the project consisting of 621 low-cost units and 171 medium-cost units.

There was a large turnout for the key handing over ceremony held at the Taman Kantan Permai field.

Five house buyers were selected to receive their keys from Selangor Housing, Building and Squatters Management Commit-tee chairman Datuk Mokhtar Dahlan.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo was scheduled to attend but was called away for another function in Sepang.

At a press conference later, Mokhtar said 11 abandoned housing projects in the state involving 3,376 units have been rehabilitated with the Certificates of Fitness (CF) awarded while 23 projects more consisting of 11,551 units were in various stages of implementation.

“The 18-year delay in Taman Kantan Permai is a major setback but I have also come across a 30-year delay where some of the house buyers had died.

“The state government is serious about addressing this issue so I advise house buyers to cooperate with us and not prolong the delay further by taking the matter to court.

Long-awaited moment: Mokhtar (in light purple shirt) presenting keys to house buyers of the Taman Kantan Permai, Kajang project. On the extreme left is Alinah.

“We are trying to help and the fact remains that the house buyers signed the S&P with the developer and not the state. If SPNB is late, please be understanding and remain patient,” he said.

SPNB managing director Datuk Mohd Amin Mohd Salleh said since its appointment by the Finance Ministry under the purview of the Housing and Local Government Ministry, SPNB has been entrusted to undertake and rehabilitate 189 projects comprising 623,028,384 units through consultation, observation and some involving financial support.

Selangor Housing and Real Property Board executive director Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad said the state had a total of 138 abandoned projects involving 36,562 units.

The breakdown given was 101 housing projects with 30,090 units, 23 commercial projects with 2,208 units, four industrial projects with 682 units and 10 kampung extension projects in Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor with 3,082 units.