DEVELOPERS of abandoned housing projects may be barred from leaving the country in the near future, says Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu.
The Deputy Local Government Development Minister said this was among the punitive measures against such errant housing developers following the proposed amendment to housing laws.
“Among the amendments that will be implemented is placing a travel restriction on housing developers and board of directors who have been blacklisted,” she said to a question raised by Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjung Piai).
Additionally, Aiman stated that the National Housing Data Banking System (Teduh) would display details of housing developers and their abandoned or troubled projects.
“This will become a reference for stakeholders such as purchasers and financing banks,” she added.
As of Sept 30 this year, Aiman said there were 113 abandoned private housing projects nationwide, involving a total of 30,361 units and 15,952 purchasers. She added that the special task force on abandoned and troubled private housing projects had revived 14 of them up until last month.
“These projects involved 1,900 units with an estimated value of RM574.79mil,” she said.
In the current action to better protect homebuyers, Aiman said the minister is empowered to declare a private housing project abandoned if it fails to be completed within a stipulated time frame.
“Once declared as abandoned, the ministry will take proactive action to blacklist the developer and the board of directors involved,” she said.
