10 years to get OP!

Decade-long delay because property developer absconded

After a 10-year wait, 21 homeowners from Taman Stapang Emas, Jalan Sg Tapang finally received their occupation permits (OP) yesterday.

The decade-long delay was because the irresponsible developer of the property had absconded.
Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) chairman Tan Joo Phoi, who presented the documents yesterday, said the houses were “practically completed” in 1999, but the developer had absconded in 2003, leaving the housing estate without a proper road.

Tan said a proper road was among the requirements for the issuance of OPs.

“This is the third such case and each time the council has to waive some of the requirements (for the issuance of OP) on humanitarian grounds to help the house owners,” said Tan during the handover ceremony at PMC’s premises in Kota Padawan.

Tan, who is also Batu Kawah assemblyman, said two previous cases which the council solved involved Capitol Garden (40 homeowners) and Stapok Garden (20 homeowners).

He hoped housing developers would act responsibly and not abscond from projects.

“It is my hope and the council’s hope that housing developers carrying out projects in the PMC area would be more disciplined and responsible,” stressed Tan.

Meanwhile, council secretary Michael Saweng said the OPs were supposed to be presented about three months ago. It was postponed because the council wanted the authorities to locate the developer of the housing estate but unfortunately failed to do so, he said.