Civil servant in loan predicament hopes to get her new home soon

JOHOR BARU: First-time house buyer Noraziyan Nasir, who was allegedly duped in a scam in the purchase of an affordable house in the state, is hopeful that her dream of owning her own home will come true in the next few months.

The Star had last year highlighted Noraziyan’s plight.

Although her government loan was approved for the purchase of a Johor affordable house (RMMJ), the cheque issued by her lawyer totalling more than RM140,000 had bounced.

“There are people who have moved in on both sides of my house. I could only catch a glimpse of my house from the outside,” she said, adding that she could only drive past her completed double-storey unit in Kluang.

The 36-year-old civil servant who is racking up debt is paying RM706 for her government housing loan and another RM350 to rent a home.

Noraziyan explained her predicament to Johor Housing and Rural Development Committee chairman Dzulkefly Ahmad during a special meeting here yesterday.

“I feel so cheated and I hope that the government will help me,” she said, adding that she was among five women from Kluang who were allegedly duped by their lawyer.

She claimed that her lawyer had kept on giving excuses.

It is believed the lawyer had carried out the transactions for the houses and once the loans were approved, did not remit the money to the developer.

The lawyer allegedly siphoned off the money and issued invalid cheques to the developer.

The developer then decided to hold back the keys to the houses until today.

Dzulkefly said he had already instructed the state housing unit to put a freeze on the five houses involved so that they would not be sold to others in the coming months.

“I also called the lawyer directly and have asked for some information pertaining to this case. I hope the police and Bar Council will also look into this case,” he said, adding that such cases should not have happened in the first place.

“Now, due to the many months of delay, the victim will be forced to fork out more money.

“The lawyer claims that they have indemnity insurance,” he said.

Help at hand: Noraziyan showing copies of documents to Dzulkefly during a special meeting to explain her plight after falling victim to a scam involving the Johor Affordable scheme project in Kluang.