By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 16: Borneo Samariang Garden Homebuyers Union (GPPBSG) has called upon the candidates contesting in the P193 Santubong constituency to include efforts to solve the ‘sick’ housing project in their manifesto in the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15).
The Homebuyers Action Committee for Phase 5 (JKPF5) deputy chairman Deemar Dinardee Hasmadi, representing the union, said the commitment shown by the candidates for the parliamentary seat would be a benchmark for their determination to serve the people.
“An initial action must accompany this commitment and promise: to submit a proposed solution to the Sarawak government and the homebuyers involved.
“The recommendations given should prioritise the welfare of the people and try to expedite the completion of this sick housing project,” he said when reading a statement issued by the union to the press at one of the uncompleted housing units at the site today.
The GPPBSG also condemned the actions of the housing developer, Sentoria Borneo Land Sdn Bhd (SBLSB), for being selfish and not considering the welfare and the impact on the homebuyers.
“Until now, no explanation has been made by the developer following the delay in the completion of this housing involving more than 1,000 buyers.
“Various efforts have been made by GPPBSG, including contacting and discussing with the developer, making complaints to relevant ministries and asking for help from the Sarawak leadership, but the construction site is still deserted without any progress.
“The people are now in a state of restlessness and anxiety because they still do not know when this housing will be ready and habitable,” he added.
He also explained that the developer’s delay in handing over the housing project had caused various problems to buyers aged between 26 and 45 since they are committing not only to monthly instalments between RM800 to RM1,800 per month but also rentals which are now close to RM2,500 per month.
“It should be noted that the majority of buyers are civil servants or working with government-related agencies (GLCs) who come from low-income (B40) and middle-income (M40) groups.
“Coupled with the increasing cost of living now, there are several prospective buyers who are facing bankruptcy action because they are no longer able to pay this monthly commitment,” he continued.
According to JKPF5 chairman Mohd Zulfika Abdolkader who was also at the site, there was little to no physical progress in the project.
“I admit that several workers are sighted at the construction site, but for this big-scale project, five workers conducting the entire construction seems impossible.
“We are very unhappy with the slow progress. For example, Lorong 4E and 4F housing units reached about 90 per cent completion in 2019. But from 2019 until October this year, there was no progress.
“In terms of construction quality, we can see parts of the gate, wiring, door, and so on, have gone missing due to theft and unmanned site,” he told the press.
The Borneo Samariang Garden project is a private housing development undertaken by SBLSB, which was supposed to be completed in 2019, but its construction has been abandoned following internal problems.
On May 5 this year, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that the Sarawak government would take over the problematic housing project beginning with redevelopment phases involving low-cost and affordable housing.
Having been required to comply with the intricate processes has led to the delay in payment released by the bank to the sub-contractors.
As a result of the delay in payment, the sub-contractors have ceased work at the site. Some had also vacated the site due to non-payment. — DayakDaily
