PAPAR: Legal reforms related to real estate and protection of property buyers’ rights will be among the key components of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) manifesto for the upcoming 17th State Election (PRN17).
GRS Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the initiative involves two existing enactments identified through a legal framework review.
He said the reforms include proposed amendments to the Land (Subsidiary Title) Enactment 1972 or potentially repealing it altogether to introduce a new related enactment and the drafting of a new ‘Building Management Enactment 2025’.
“The Real Estate Legal Reform initiative aims to address developments in Sabah’s property sector, particularly in issuing strata title developments, while protecting the rights of property owners and consumers.
“Its objectives include resolving delays in title issuance, expediting the formation of management corporations, addressing building maintenance issues, and establishing a Building Commissioner.
“This effort is part of the broader Legal and Institutional Reform Agenda outlined in the GRS Manifesto, which will be presented in due course,” he said.
Armizan said this in a press conference here Sunday to help 24 buyers of commercial shop lots at Century Plaza, in Pekan Papar who have yet to receive their individual strata titles almost 20 years now after purchasing the units from the developer in 2004.
He said the issue was raised following complaints from the buyers who sought his assistance as the Member of Parliament for Papar to ensure their rights are upheld in getting their respective strata ownership titles.
Of the 24 affected buyers, he said 19 had already fully settled their bank loans for the purchases, while two of them had since passed away without receiving their individual (strata) ownership titles.
“I sympathised these 24 buyers whom were left in a limbo by the developer of the Century Plaza for almost 20 years without the ownership titles.
“I view this as an irresponsible act of the developer when it has the responsibility to ensure the buyers getting the strata titles ownership on the units they bought,” he said.
Armizan said his team, together with the Papar District Council (MDP)—the landowner of the project site—held a meeting last Monday (Oct 27), which the developer failed to attend despite being notified.
“The purpose of meeting the developer was to understand the complications that have prolonged this issue and to see how I could assist, particularly if it involves any government agency.
“To date, the buyers remain uncertain about the status of their individual titles, as the responsibility lies with the developer.
“Therefore, I have appointed a legal firm Zainal & Co.to represent the 24 buyers and to consider legal action based on the Sale and Purchase Agreement,” he said.
Armizan added that the legal firm had written to the developer on October 31, giving 14 days for the latter to respond.
He said if there is no reply within that period, further legal action will be taken, and he will also engage with the State Government since the project land is owned by Papar District Council (MDP).
“MDP must also take responsibility by keeping the buyers informed of any developments, as this project was a joint venture between MDP and the developer,” he said.
