100 buyers of Salak South housing project protest delay in handing over units

Residensi Wilayah Pangsapuri Salak Selatan buyers say the delay in completing the project is causing them to shoulder additional financial burdens.

In a peaceful demonstration outside the unfinished development, some 100 of them expressed their frustration through placards over delays in the project, also known as Ritz Communities@Salak South.

Nor Ashikin Aziz said she has to continue paying rental for her accommodation in Kampung Malaysia while waiting for her new home to be completed.

The schoolteacher said she is paying interest on her property loan while raising three children.

“I pay RM800 for rent and RM750 a month for the housing loan.”

Lee Guan Hau said he bought the unit in 2018, with the expectation of moving in with his mother in 2021.

“However, when the Covid-19 pandemic happened, the development came to a halt, so I had to continue renting accommodation.

“As the project has been delayed further, I had no choice but to buy an apartment in Puchong Prima in 2022,” he told StarMetro.

Leow says the vacant possession date was supposed to be Aug 8, 2021.He said he now spends some RM3,000 a month to service both housing loans.

The project was initiated by the Federal Territories Department (JWP) to offer affordable homes.

Pangsapuri Salak Selatan Owners Association president Leow Sean Paul said the first batch of buyers signed their sales and purchase agreements in February 2018.

“Considering the extension of time granted by the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), the vacant possession date was supposed to be Aug 8, 2021 for early buyers.

“However, there has been no sign of progress since last June,” he said.

He added that KPKT informed buyers that a letter was issued to the developer on Jan 10 under Section 11 of the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966 (Act 118).

“We hope KPKT will appoint an independent third party to conduct a project audit to evaluate the amount needed to complete the project and conduct a financial audit on the developer to determine their financial capacity to complete the project,” said Leow.

StarMetro reached out to KPKT for comments but it had not responded at press time.