Compiled by JUSTIN ZACK, TAN SIN CHOW and R. ARAVINTHAN

TWENTY-seven buyers who booked low cost houses in Kuala Ketil, Kedah, have demanded the houses be handed over by the developer as promised.

Tamil dailies reported that the 24 Indian and three Chinese buyers had paid RM2,000 deposit each for the houses in 2012 under a scheme started by the state government.

The houses promised by the appointed developer were valued at RM49,000.

In February this year, other house buyers received the keys to their new homes from Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

However, the 27 buyers were only given certificates assuring them of their houses, said Pekan Baru Kuala Ketil MIC chief M. Ramasamy.

He said the developer claimed that there were legal issues over the land the houses were built on, and that the Baling Land Office had blocked the handover of the units.

Ramasamy said the excuse was unbelievable because the land was bought from Kedah State Development Corporation (PKNK), and the state government had promised the houses to the buyers.

Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim also supported the families’ claim for their low cost houses.

The buyers demanded that the houses be handed over before Deepavali in November.