KUCHING: A group of house buyers have sought the help of Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen and Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong.
Chong said the Sentoria Borneo Samariang Garden housing project was developed in several phases.
“Those who bought the houses under Phases 5 and 7 found that their houses were long over the due dates for completion.
“As a result, the purchasers are compelled to pay their loan instalments while not having the benefit of staying in the houses.”
Chong said the house purchasers had previously sought the help of the Ministry of Housing but were told to wait for the developer to complete the project.
He said the developer had since closed its office in Kuching.
“It is to be noted that when the said housing project was first launched many years ago, the then Chief Minister of Sarawak, Taib Mahmud was there to officiate the launch.
“His presence at the event gave many the confidence to buy the houses. Yet, when trouble lurked and the project long delayed, the GPS government shirk their responsibility to help the purchasers.
“It is most unacceptable for the state government to push the purchasers around and shirk their responsibility as the government of the day. To-date, the Minister for Housing has also not taken any effective step to help the purchasers.
“It is our suggestion that given the long delay by the developer in the completion of the said housing project, the state government should step in to undertake the same.
“At the very least, the state government should make sure that the financiers of these purchasers, mainly Lembaga Pembiayaan Perumahan Sektor Awam and Borneo Housing Mortgage Finance Berhad (both are government agencies), stop charging these house purchasers interest on their loans,” Chong said.
“Instead of doing videos on social media for self-publicity, Sim Kui Hian, as the Minister for Housing, should spend more time doing his job.”
