A TOTAL of 114 housing and commercial projects in Selangor were abandoned from 2008 up to January this year and out of this, 53 projects were restored.

Housing, Building Management and Urban Living Committee chairman Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad said this in reply to Tiew Way Keng (DAP-Teratai), who asked about housebuyers being chased by banks for monthly payments for a property that has yet to be completed and whether the state is able to blacklist such developers.

Iskandar said the state could only facilitate discussions between banks, housebuyers and the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), for an amicable solution to be reached.

“The state’s power in this issue is limited, because the Housing Developers Licensing Act is a Federal act.

“What we can do is facilitate the discussion between banks, housebuyers and KPKT to discuss and find a solution.

“In terms of enforcement, it can only be done by KPKT or the Federal Government,” he said.

Iskandar added that on top of the Abandoned Buildings Restoration Committee (JPPT), a special committee will be formed to handle specific abandoned housing projects.

On another matter, Razaly Hassan (PKR-Dusun Tua) proposed amendments to existing local government bylaws to enable them to dispose of abandoned vehicles from residential areas in a more efficient manner.

Selangor Local Government, New Village Development and Legalising of Factories Committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah said amendments to existing laws would take some time.

He cited reasons such as the need for clearance from the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) before the vehicles are disposed.

“Presently, local councils are following Section 46 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, which is a federal Act.

“This is still in its proposal stages, because we need time to study if the Act is suitable for to be used in Selangor.

“The issue now is that if councils want to dispose of an abandoned car, they have to get clearance from police and JPJ, because it has an owner and the council has no right dispose of it,” he said.

Halimaton Saadiah Bohan (BN-Kota Damansara) was not satisfied with the answer and said the abandoned vehicles issue had been going on for a long time without a solution, in some cases up to five years.

Ean Yong said the local councils could only tow the abandoned cars to the storage unit but they could not dispose of the car straight away.

“The local council’s storage unit for abandoned cars is full.

“The police are involved because some abandoned cars are evidence for criminal cases,” he said.

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