Story by Chan Lilian
Pix by Alissala Thian
“WHY punish us? Why this selective punishment? What wrong have the developers in Penang done that we are being punished?”
These are some of the questions and frustrations expressed by the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) Penang to the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Penang Rehda chairman Datuk Jerry Chan and exco member Jagdeep Singh Deo held a press conference at Komtar on June 24 to put forward these questions to the ministry.
Jagdeep had written to the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek on the same day to demand an explanation on the delay in the approval of the advertising permit and developers licence, or APDL, under the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966.
“The Member of Parliament for Bagan, who is also Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng had put forward the written question in Parliament on April 6 regarding the status of the applications.
“We were told that out of 48 applications from Penang between August 2014 and February 2015, only 18 were approved. Previously, these APDL applications were approved within two weeks. If rejected, the ministry will provide the reason for rejection. Now, they have delayed the approval for more than half a year. When we pushed them, they asked us to wait till after Chinese New Year. Then, when we followed up, they asked us to wait till after Raya,” Jagdeep explained to the press in exasperation.
“As a last resort, I have today written to the secretary-general and given them 14 days to explain. We want to know what is happening. Otherwise, we shall have to explore what further action to take. The state will contemplate if legally they can take any action. At the same time, the developers too can pursue the matter,” Jagdeep said.
Meanwhile, Chan, a developer himself, posed several questions to the ministry.
“Thousands of units of homes are held up. This is not about business but about people’s lives being affected by the delay. Why is this blanket treatment given to developers in Penang only? Some developers submitted their application for the permit and licence in October 2014. Previously, it took only two weeks,” Chan said.
“This is an act of sabotage to the country’s economic growth. We, the developers, pay our taxes to the federal government. Yet, the delay is selective, only Penang projects are delayed. So many industries and people are impacted. Is this the way to run a ministry? Is this the righteous thing to do? Have you no fear before God? Why punish the people who have no quarrel with you? Why are you treating the developers this way?” he said in frustration.
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