MACC to help Johor probe housing scams
JOHOR BARU: The Johor government has roped in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to help in its investigation into scams related to its affordable housing schemes, in addition to an ongoing police probe.
The state has also set up a special hotline for the public to make complaints or inquiries with regard to Johor Affordable Homes (better known as Rumah Mampu Milik Johor, or RMMJ).
Johor Housing and Rural Development Committee chairman Dzulkefly Ahmad said the MACC had agreed to help.
“I spoke to Johor MACC director Datuk Azmi Alias last week and he has assured us that it would also investigate the matter.
“The police have formed a team to investigate the scams and we hope to get leads on the syndicate as soon as possible,” he said at a press conference after launching a seminar on housing policies at Bangunan Sultan Ismail yesterday.
Dzulkefly added that there were three police reports with about 80 victims involved.
“In one case, some 70 victims paid a total of about RM500,000 as downpayment to secure the affordable homes with an ‘agent’,” he said.
He said the state government would also seek help from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to stop irresponsible parties from advertising fake affordable homes online.
“They are using social media to prey on the victims by claiming to be ‘agents’ who could give buyers a spot in the affordable housing scheme.
“Apart from posting on sites such as Facebook, they are also sending messages to prospective buyers via WhatsApp,” he added.
The Star reported on Wednesday that many in the state had been tricked into making payments to ensure the purchase of the RMMJ.
The report also caught the attention of Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar who advised Johoreans to be wary of scammers.