KUCHING, Dec 28: There are a total of 11,236 units of low cost flats completed between the years 1997 to 2005 which have yet to receive strata titles until today.
The figures given by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, in a written reply to Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen’s questions in the State Legislative Assembly, also quoted the reasons for the delay as “non-compliance on the approved plan by the contractors and illegal extension by flat owners”.
“This excuse is totally unacceptable; it was 12 to 20 years ago. House owners should not be left hanging on the air,” Chong told a press conference today after revealing the shocking figures.
He urged Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who previously helmed the Housing Ministry and the current Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian to look into the matter and resolve it.
Chong said that Housing Development Corporation has not been a good example.
“In the private sector, if titles are not issued within three years, it would be called errant development with a tainted reputation and (developer) to be blacklisted. In this case, how to blacklist government agency?” he asked.
“Now the main culprit is the government,” he said, adding that there could be more HDC units completed after the year of 2005 which also did not receive strata titles, but not included in the statistics given.
These affordable flats developed by HDC and sold to the public which are still not issued with strata titles include RPR Demak Laut (384 units completed in 1998), RPR Matang Batu 5 (96 units completed in 1997), and RPR Tondong Batu Kawa (660 units completed in 1999).
Chong was prompted to the check on the issue after a group of low cost housing owners approached him to help resolve their problem of non-issuance of strata title.
“Without a strata title, it would be more difficult for the houseowners to sell their units; they are not the registered owner at the land registry,” he said. – Dayak Daily.
