BY JADE CHAN

BUYERS of the abandoned Astana Square project in Selayang can get the keys to their property after settling outstanding finances and signing a letter of undertaking to pay the land premium.

In a press conference to update the affected buyers of the project that had been abandoned since 2001, Kepong Community Service Centre head Yee Poh Ping said the total land premium was RM10mil and the affected buyers totalling 176 would need to pay about RM57,000 each.

The outstanding finances were cost for reviving and completing the mixed development project comprising 16 office units and 160 serviced apartments.

It included payment to utility and maintenance companies, and 23.5% of the original selling price, for which some buyers had paid.

When the developer was declared bankrupt, a liquidator was appointed by the court to complete the project.

At the press conference, Yee also provided the buyers forms to apply for electricity meters for their properties, which would be later submitted to the project’s liquidator.

He said most of the buyers had agreed to pay the land premium and the additional cost.

“The liquidator will have to submit the relevant documents to MPS (Selayang Municipal Council) to apply for the Temporary Certificate of Fitness (TCF) to allow the buyers to move into their properties,” he said, adding that the issuance of the TCF was only upon paying up the RM10mil land premium.

Yee appealed to Gombak Land Office and Selayang Municipal Council to consider the buyers’ plight, and extend a similar offer given to the Taman Daya double-storey houseowners.

“The same developer for Astana Square built the Taman Daya houses without land titles. A few years ago, the houseowners paid RM1,000 each to get their land titles and have since received them,” he said.

He disclosed that the liquidator was expected to call for a meeting soon with the buyers to list down the additional costs and to discuss the letter of undertaking for the land premium.

He also said that the buyers who had yet to get the application form for electricity meters would need to call the liquidator’s office for a copy and send the completed form back.

“If the buyers are unable to send the form themselves, they can pass them to their fellow buyer Chia Bee Teck (016-341 5681) at the Taman Daya wet market by tomorrow, and we will submit on their behalf,” Yee added.