(Klang, Wednesday): I have just sent a written complaint to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government against Hicom Gamuda for its program to launch “The Wetlands Terraces” in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam on this Saturday, 1.10.2005.

Hicom Gamuda had sent out letters to prospective purchasers for the new housing project named “The Wetlands Terraces” in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam soliciting business without advertisement and sale permit as required by the section 5 of the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Regulations 1989. In breach of the section, the developer may on conviction be liable to a maximum fine of RM5,000.00 or imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or to both.

Interested purchasers will have to pay a sum of RM8,000.00 to the solicitors appointed by Hicom Gamuda as stakeholder and this is also in breach of the purchasers’ right to appoint solicitors of their choice.

I had personally called the Hicom Gamuda sale office and was informed that such arrangement to pay the RM8,000.00 to the stakeholder was necessary because the project would only be officially launched in six months time when the sale and purchase agreement could be executed by the purchasers and the developer.

I urge the Housing Ministry to immediately stop the launching and such practice that contravenes, or at least circumvents, the law that is supposed to protect the public interest.