The project which consists of 160 service apartments and 16 shoplots was completed last year, but has yet to receive the Certificate of Fitness (CF) from the Selayang Municipal Council.
Kepong Community Centre Head Yee Poh Ping, who is assisting the owners, said the project which began in 2001 was supposed to have been completed in 2003.
“The developer delayed the project from 2003 until 2009. The issue was then dragged to court and the developer was declared bankrupt,” he told FMT.
Yee said in 2012, the property owners formed a committee and brought the matter to court again.
“In 2013, the court appointed a liquidator to revive the abandoned project which was 95% completed.”
Yee said the owners were then told by the liquidator that they would have to pay between 10% to 15% of the cost of their units, in order for the project to be completed.
“The owners paid the amount requested and the project was completed in 2015 pending the installing of the water, electricity and sewerage system.”
Yee said that in 2016 the owners got a rude shock when they received a letter from the Gombak District Land Office requesting they pay RM10.2 million for the land premium.
“When the owners signed the sales and purchase agreement, the land premium was included in the cost of purchase.
“How did the developer get the approval for the development order for the project, when they didn’t pay the land premium?
“Now, the land office is asking the owners to absorb the developer’s problems and pay the land premium if they are to get vacant possession.”
Yee said that he had written letters to Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali over the matter.
“The property owners are hoping that Azmin will look into their grouses. They want Azmin to waive the land premium and only then will they get their CF and be able to move in.”
Yee said if the owners did not get a response by the end of January, they would hold a peaceful protest at the Selangor State Secretariat building in Shah Alam.
Property owner Khoo Chee Heng, 59 who bought a unit for his son there, hopes the matter will be resolved soon.
“I bought the unit for my son when he first got married and he is still waiting to move in.
“His wife just gave birth and they need a place of their own to raise their child.”
Another owner Chao Ngan Yook, 50 is frustrated that she still has to pay for the bank loan yet is unable to move into her unit.
“I’m living in a flat and have to pay the bank instalments and my three children who have been waiting for the house are already teenagers now. They definitely will need a bigger place as they grow up.”