16/04/2009 The Star

PETALING JAYA: The Housing and Local Government Ministry will strive to be people-centric and put the interest of the people first when making decisions, its minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha said.

“We cannot afford to be indecisive. The people will have confidence in us when we are able to make prompt decisions,” he told reporters after chairing his ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting yesterday.

He also reminded the ministry’s employees to be consistent, reliable and predictable in delivering excellent services to the people.

On the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Kong said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak expressed hope that all ministries would set their respective key performance index and strive to achieve their targets.

Earlier, Kong held a meeting with the developers of the delayed Permai Putera and Permai Puteri projects in Ampang, saying the apartments would be completed and handed over to the buyers by the end of the month and in July.

The 299 units of Permai Putera and 481 units of Permai Puteri low- and medium-cost apartments have been delayed for more than three years.

Meanwhile, a special task force headed by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan has been set up to rehabilitate delayed housing projects.

Formed by the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) comprising senior officers from the Government and the private sector, it had been entrusted to jumpstart delayed or halted projects through white knights and Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd.

Selangor has the most delayed projects at 39, Johor and Negri Sembilan have 32 and 20 respectively while Sabah and Sarawak have several, a Housing and Local Government Ministry statement said yesterday.

The task force also planned to tighten licensing approval procedures for housing development, ensuring developers follow regulations in the Housing Act and install an oversight and monitoring system via local authorities and financiers.