SEREMBAN: Dozens of chalets and resorts built in risky areas such as slopes in the state have till the end of this year to legalise their business, says executive councillor J. Arul Kumar.
The state transportation, housing and local government development committee chairman warned that if the 47 premises did not have the certificate of completion and compliance (CCC) by Jan 1, 2025, they would have to cease operations.
“We have been engaging these operators for years, but none of them have actually obtained the CCC. Of the 47 operators, only 12 have come forward to seek advice or partial approvals to continue operating.
“The state exco had during its last meeting on Sept 4 decided to give them four more months to comply, failing which they will have to face the consequences,” he told reporters at his office in Wisma Negri here yesterday.
He said 40 operators are based in Seremban, four in Jelebu and three in Rembau.
Arul Kumar said for those operating in the Seremban area, the local authorities began engaging them in 2019 after a 15-year-old French-Irish teenager who suffered learning difficulties, disappeared from a resort in Pantai Hills in August that year.
Nora Anne Quoirin’s remains were found 10 days after her disappearance.
He said the state authorities had in May 2022 again asked all the operators to come forward to apply for the CCC, and this was followed by another directive from the state executive council in January 2023.
However, the state executive council then did not give a time frame to the operators to comply with the directive.
“We have to act because we need to ensure these areas, some of which are built along rivers, are safe for tourists,” he said.
The Seremban Municipal Council, he said, had also invited the 40 operators for a meeting in February, but only 12 showed up.
Arul Kumar said checks showed that the operators continued their business despite being served with notices.
Asked what could be the reasons for the nonchalance, he said it was probably due to most of them operating on land with agriculture status.
Arul Kumar said authorities have to act as safety is priority.
“It is not our intention to close these places, but they must obtain the CCC so that we know the structures are safe for occupancy.”
