TEMPORARY TITLES LAND TAMAN KEPONG IN LIMBO
By Dawn Chan
streets@nstp.com.my
A houseowner found out about the problem when he tried to sell his house recently. He was dumbfounded when a bank officer asked him to explain why his property was under a temporary land title.
Another resident was alerted to the problem when his mother asked him to go through her documents.
The shocking news spread through the neighbourhood like wildfire.
"When I called the Federal Territory Land Office, I was told that there must be an application for the land title by the developer," said Stephen Ng, a resident.
"But doesn't purchasing a house also include the land as well? If the developer failed to deliver, who is at fault?" asked Ng.
The houses were built by Kepong Garden Development Sdn Bhd in the 1970s.
Ng, whose mother and sister live in Jalan Tiga, claimed that the Land Office also blamed the Survey And Mapping Department for not providing them with a layout plan.
The Housing and Local Government Ministry, he added, should be monitoring the activities of housing developers to ensure that they fulfill their responsibilities to house buyers.
Ng also urged Kepong member of parliament Dr Tan Seng Giaw to ask the Housing and Local Government Ministry and Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to explain why land title problems continued to plague house buyers. Ng said the ministries should study the issue and identify loopholes in the law.
"Most of us have finished paying for our houses and, as such, the permanent land title should rightfully be ours.
"We demand that the Land Office and Survey And Mapping Department solve this issue within two months," he said.
Retiree Chew Heng, 61, said: "I heard about the problem from the neighbour who tried to sell his house. I was shocked to find out I was in the same boat.
"The temporary land title means the government can ask us to move anytime to make way for development. I hope Dr Tan will be able to help us get the permanent land title," added Chew.
Dr Tan said he had met the Federal Territory Land Office to discuss the matter and that they would get back to him. He said he had also written to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.