Panel set up to look into subsidiary titles issue

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KOTA KINABALU: The State Government has established a working committee to review the Land (Subsidiary Title) Enactment 1972, in effort to address issues pertaining to the delay in the issuance of subsidiary titles, said Minister of Special Tasks, Datuk Teo Chee Kang.

As the minister in charge of law amendments, Teo informed that several meetings have been held by the working committee to look into this matter.

Teo said this when meeting committee members of the Subsidiary Title Owners and Purchasers Association, Sabah (STOPS) headed by its chairman, Ken Lo, during a courtesy call here yesterday.

In his 18-year legal career before his appointment as a state cabinet minister, Teo said he had handled many Sales and Purchase Agreements (SPA) that involved subsidiary titles.

Some owners have yet to receive their subsidiary titles till now, he said.

While some disinterested or self-interested developers were to be blamed, Teo stressed that not all developers have failed to fulfil their duties in applying for subsidiary titles from the government authority.

Teo said a working committee tasked to review the Land (Subsidiary Title) Enactment 1972 had looked into all aspects, including problems faced by subsidiary title owners and causes of delays in the issuance of subsidiary titles.

“I can assure you that work is in progress and I am monitoring it very closely. Personally, I feel it has to be done as soon as possible,” he said, adding that the government has a strong political will to resolve issues pertaining to subsidiary titles.

Meanwhile, Lo said STOPS was established on February 22, 2013 to make representation and be involved with relevant authorities, professional bodies and developers on any discussion, formation of new Acts, regulations, by-laws and rules pertaining to subsidiary title properties.

STOPS also aims to promote awareness on the shared benefits and responsibilities as purchasers or owners of subsidiary title properties.

Also present at the courtesy call were STOPS committee members Bobby Voon, Cherly Chang and David Ong.