Housing and Local Government Minister Chor Chee Heung today urged a section of the purchasers of the revived Ukay Bistari project to defer legal action against the developer so that all purchasers would be able to take possession of their homes first.
He said 12 of them, who moved into the completed block, are bringing the developer Damai Bistari Sdn Bhd to court to claim for compensation over constructions delay.
“If you insist in pursuing legal actions, the developer will be liquidated and they won’t be able to continue with the works,”
“The company has been helping (to revive the project) for so many years, they won’t run away,”
“So you should only proceed with the summons after everyone gets their houses,” he said at a press conference after a visit to Ukay Bistari today.
Chor admitted that the developer has breached the sales and purchase agreement for the late delivery and the purchasers are entitled to claim damages.
Located in Ampang, the Ukay Bistari project was launched in 2003, consisting low-cost apartments, service apartments, shops and office lots.
Although it was promised to be delivered by 2006, the developer halted the project a year earlier due to financial difficulties.
The disgruntled buyers made a stir last year through its association chairman Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan Abdul Rahman, tendering some 4000 purchasers and their spouses’ ballot in call for political action from both BN Federal Government and Pakatan state government to aid in mobilizing the project.
The developer’s representative, who only identified herself as Lai, said today that units at block A, D and E are expected to be handed over by this month.
Physical works on block C and D, she continued, will be completed in December while block F is expected to be complete in February 2012.
“We hope the authorities can issue certificate of fitness for occupation to the completed blocks soon,” she said.
Meanwhile, Rafick commended the Federal Government for their persistent assistance while condemning the state government for no action.
“All of our attempts to meet the Selangor MB were futile,”
“The state does not seem to be interested to meet us despite 60 percent of the country’s abandoned projects are in Selangor,” said the buyer who also chaired the Abandoned Property Owners Malaysia (Victims).
However, he still placed hope that Selangor government will emulate the Federal Government in helping property victims as land matters are within their jurisdiction.
Last November, Selangor exco for housing Iskandar Samad said blocks B, C and F of Ukay Bistari will be completed by February, April and July 2011 respectively.
Jimmy Tan
Admin
