Kota Kinabalu: The Ministry of Local Government and Housing set up a Special Committee about two years ago to look into issues such as delays in the issuance of strata titles by its agencies.In a statement Tuesday, its Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said his former Assistant Minister, Datuk Edward Yong, chaired the committee.
The members, he said, included representatives from the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB), Land and Survey Department, City Hall, former Kepayan Assemblyman Datuk Edward Khoo and the Ministry's Housing Controller.
"Since the formation of this committee, the land or strata titles of eight housing projects undertaken by LPPB have been looked into and are in final stages of issuance," he said.
These projects include Phase I of Landong Ayang in Kudat (150 units), Phase I of Nagapas in Papar (163 units), Phase 2A & 2B of Taman Semarak in Tawau (269 units), Taman Pasir Putih in Keningau (84 units), Taman Muhibbah in Beaufort (186 units), Taman Kuala Menggatal (365 units), Taman Pasir Putih in Putatan (274 units), and Phase 12C of Kepayan Ridge (122 commercial units).
He was responding to press reports quoting Land and Survey Director Datuk Osman Jamal as saying that the strata titles for 1,008 units of houses in Phases 18 & 19 (24 blocks) of Kepayan Ridge would be issued soon.
Osman said this when briefing newly elected Api-Api Assemblywoman Christina Liew last Monday.
Hajiji said it was unfortunate that a picture has been painted as if the Ministry or the LPPB have done nothing to solve the problem.
"As the Director would know, the delay was caused by technicality rather than on purpose," he stated, adding that he has nonetheless instructed LPPB to take immediate steps to facilitate any outstanding application process.
Osman said the department was in the process of registering the parent land title with the Land Registrar.
He said once it is registered, the department could then process the strata titles.
However, he said, LPPB has to submit the application for the said titles.
"From the day LPPB submits the application, and if everything is in order, we will issue the strata titles within three months," he said.
He explained that the long delay was attributed to non-compliance with the requirements of the Land (Subsidiary Title) Enactment 1972, Building By-laws and Town Planning on the part of the developer and LPPB.
