Thursday January 17, 2008

S&Ps signed in 2004 but homes still not ready yet

By FAZLEENA AZIZ

SOME 600 buyers of the Ukay Bestari service apartments in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, who signed their sales and purchase agreements in 2004, are still waiting for their homes to be completed.

The Ukay Bestari consists of six blocks with 1,027 units and has facilities like a recreational centre, gym, surau, pool and cafe & bistro.

The buyers had a meeting recently to discuss the continuous delay of their homes.

Muhammad Rosli Md Samah, a spokesman for the buyers, said that that at the meeting, a mediator briefed them on the status of the building construction.

Rosli said no decision was reached because the developer was not present.

According to Rosli, the mediator had proposed an extension of time to complete the project and also for the progress payments.

He said the mediator advised the buyers to form an ad hoc committee to represent them in dealing with the developer.

“We signed the sale and purchase agreement in 2004 and there had not been any progress to the development in the recent months,” Rosli said.

“Previously, each time we asked about the status, the developer gave us various excuses. We hope that there will be development progress as a result of this meeting because we have waited for a long time,” he said.

According to Rosli, Hulu Kelang assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Bujang, who was present at the meeting, has promised to monitor the construction progress closely together with the related government agencies.

Ahmad said that he was concerned about the problems faced by the buyers.

“I attended the meeting to find out the real situation. We hope that the developer will complete the projects as soon as possible,” he said.

“We will monitor the development to ensure that there would be progress because the buyers are paying interest to the bank,” Ahmad said.

He said the Housing and Local Government Ministry should also ensure the ability of the developer to handle a project before giving it a licences.

He said the track record of every developer should also be reviewed.