Sungai Midin home project to start after applicants selected

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Abang Johari (second right) showing a photograph of the Sungai Midin People-Friendly Home Project while (from left) Harden, Abdul Karim and Talib look on.

CONSTRUCTION work on the Sungai Midin People-Friendly Home Project (RMR) is expected to be implemented once the applicant selection process is concluded this year.

Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed that land and infrastructure preparation work for the project were completed last month.

“Right now, it’s just the matter of developing the houses because the land concerned is on peat soil which takes time to subside,” he said in clarifying a statement raised by Christina Chiew (DAP-Batu Kawah) on the RMR project at Sungai Midin.

“For the past two years, we have carried out infrastructure work and the land is no longer like in the past,” he told reporters at a press conference held at the Media Room of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex after his winding-up speech yesterday.

Also present were housing assistant ministers Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Datuk Francis Harden Hollis as well as Tourism Assistant Minister Datuk Talib Zulpilip.

Abang Johari called Chiew out on her claims that the ministry was not making any progress on the project, and said that both Petra Jaya MP Datuk Fadillah Yusof and Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali were working diligently with his officers in developing the project.

“I have to clarify this because the Batu Kawah assemblywoman is trying to influence people in the area into thinking that we are not doing anything. Perhaps she should investigate first before jumping to conclusions,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Abang Johari said Sarawak Tribunal for Home Buyers Claims (TTPRS) received 69 complaints from house buyers between January 2013 and April 2014.

Of the total, 28 complaints were under the jurisdiction of the Tribunal of which 20 cases involved late delivery of vacant possession; three cases did not fulfill the specifications as per the Sales & Purchase Agreement; while five cases involved defective workmanship.

Abang Johari said the Tribunal had since settled 19 cases at the Tribunal Court, out of which six cases were settled out of court with house buyers receiving compensation up to RM191,320.75 from the developers.

“There are two other cases in which the hearings will be set at the nearest date while for the last remaining case, the claimant has been advised to file his case,” he said.