KPKT minister Zuraida Kamaruddin

PUTRAJAYA: The ministry would review and monitor abandoned housing projects around the country, said the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), YB Zuraida Kamaruddin.

In a press conference held recently, she mentioned that under the Housing Development (Control And Licensing) Act 1966, Section 18A, action could be taken against developers that abandoned their projects within six months or past the period as stated within the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA).

“We can protect the buyers through a service provided by the Department of National Housing, called the Abandoned Projects Recovery section.

“Besides using the present mechanism to solve the issue, KPKT is also planning to come up with a better measure to settle the problem,” said KPKT minister YB Zuraida Kamaruddin in the press release.

As of April 2018, 198 out of 257 cases of the abandoned project has been clear out.

Also, in regards to the KPKT plan to form a committee to redevelop the Highland Tower, Zuraida has selected ten representatives from various agencies. These include the Ministry of Finance (MoF), SUK Selangor, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Department Of Director General Of Lands And Mines (Federal), Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG), Department of Irrigation and Drainage, YDP Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), and Public Works Department.

The committee will be headed by the KPKT's secretary-general, with the progress report to be reviewed by Zuraida.

“The committee aims to identify the issue and factors that linked to the redevelopment of Highland Towers. They also will decide the strategy and direction of the redevelopment project,” added Zuraida.