New Policy Hampers Housing Industry In Kedah - Rehda

06/10/2008 Bernama

ALOR STAR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The Kedah and Perlis-branch of the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (REHDA) plans to challenge the validity of the newly introduced housing policy in court if the Kedah state government were to proceed with the implementation.

Its Chairman, Ricque Liew Yin Chew claimed the policy which took effect on Sept 1 had made it compulsory for developers to provide a 50 per cent quota for Bumiputera.

This, he said, would badly affect and jeopardise the housing industry in the state.

"The policy, which includes housing projects implemented on free-hold land, also prohibits the developers from selling the unsold Malay units and this definitely contradicts the National Land Code and the Federal Constitution," he told a press conference, here, Monday.

Thus, he said, a mechanism should be formulated to enable the unsold Malay units to be released so that the housing industry in Kedah remains viable.

Liew said the association had repeatedly submitted its suggestion and even sent a memorandum to the state government regarding the new policy but to no avail.

He also reiterated that the implementation of the new policy would not only affect over 250,000 potential house buyers in the state, but also 10,000 contractors who would not hesitate to relocate their businesses in a more friendly state.

REHDA will also submit a complete report to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak on the Malay house ownership as well as the actual number of units sold so far to support its allegation, he added.

-- BERNAMA