Housing Purchaser’s Claim Tribunal has solved 89 cases

DEPUTY Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Housing Purchaser’s Claim Tribunal has resolved 89 cases involving disputes between house buyers and private developers since it was established in 2010.

As of October this year, the amount of settlements paid by the developers concerned totalled RM595,770.

Most of these disputes involved late delivery of houses and building defects.

“The Tribunal has continued to play a meaningful role in mediating housing disputes. There is a need to educate house buyers on its existence and how the Tribunal can assist them in resolving their complaints or dissatisfaction against errant developers.”

Abang Johari who is also Minister of Housing and Urbanisation revealed that his ministry had organised four series of awareness seminars on the functions of the Housing Tribunal and Housing Laws early this year in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.

“In view of the encouraging response from the public, we will continue to organise several more housing awareness seminars next year in other towns throughout the state,” he said during his ministerial speech at yesterday’s State Legislative Assembly sitting.

On another development, Abang Johari said a total of 25 longhouses of 1,000 doors had been approved in 2016, involving a total loan of RM34.61 million under the new Longhouse Loan Scheme.

As such, the amount of loan that can be given out has been increased to RM50,000 per door.

“The new loan scheme is interest-free compared to the rate of three per cent under the existing scheme. Housing Development Corporation Ltd ( HDC) is also working with Employees Provident Fund ( EPF) to enable borrowers to make withdrawals from their EPF Account 2 to pay their outstanding debts.

“In addition, for the long-term security of longhouse dwellers, HDC has introduced fire insurance for the participants concerned.”