By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Aug 27: Frustrated house buyers are pleading to the Sarawak government to take over the sick Sentoria Borneo Samariang Garden (BSG) housing project.
Despite going through the proper channels and following protocols, they said no further developments nor up-to-date progress were made.
Leaving them with no choice, they turned to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen and Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong for help.
Speaking to the media while showing the stalled project site this morning, Chong said construction works have stopped, with no workers nor machines seen around the area.
The project, he said, commenced in 2018, involving some 1,000 houses for Phases 4, 5, and 7, as well as Spektra 1 and 2. The prices range from RM100,000 to RM380,000.
It was supposed to be completed in 2019, and some 90 per cent of the buyers are government servants.
“Those who bought the houses under Phases 5 and 7 found that their homes were long over the due dates for completion. Phase 5 is about 85 per cent completed, while Phase 7 is about 60 per cent, as certified by the architect.
“These purchasers are using government loans (State and federal). Their salaries have been deducted to pay the loan. They are paying full housing loans, including interest but without the benefit of staying in the house.
“They have to stay with relatives or rent another house for shelter, meaning it is a double burden in terms of monthly expenses and cost of living. This has been going on for about four years, and it is most unfair,” Chong asserts.
The Sentoria Borneo Samariang Garden housing project was developed in several phases over the years.
Sentoria Borneo Land Sdn Bhd undertook the project in 2016 as part of a mixed development Sentoria Borneo Samariang Resort City Project in Petra Jaya.
“This housing project was supposed to be complete in 2019, even before the Covid-19 pandemic hit us, but till now, despite them meeting with the relevant ministry and authorities, there is no assurance or effective solutions to the homebuyers as to when can they move into their house while they continue to dig their pockets to pay over a full loan.
“The Sarawak government must step in to undertake this problem, given the long delay by the developer in the completion of this housing project. As the Government of the day, it is Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) responsibility to come forward during such times of distress to help the purchasers.
“You cannot leave these house buyers high and dry nor allow the developer to delay and do nothing. The Sarawak government must force this developer to take responsibility,” Chong said.
As for the Spektra 1 and 2 project meant for the B40 group, he added that with the price ranges from RM130,000 to RM160,000.
Chong also showed the site where Spectra 2 houses were supposed to be built. Except for the bushes, no building nor construction materials were sighted in that section.
Since these house buyers have come to him and Yong for help, he said DAP would pursue the case to assist them.
“We will go case by case, category by category, how much they have paid, the certified completion percentage of the house, compensation and so on. This will be a very tedious process, but we will help them,” Chong assured.
Meanwhile, a house buyer at the site said, “I paid a deposit of 10 per cent and borrowed the rest through a government housing loan. I’ve been paying RM700 every month, but there is still nothing.
“I am paying for something that does not exist. The developer also informed me that they wanted to move the project to another unknown location. This is very unfair. There is no protection for us (house buyers) under the current law and policies,” he lamented. — DayakDaily
