Making sure developers behave

HEREIT IS: Johari, Assar Senari Group of Companies CEO Tuan Syeed Mohamad Hussien (second left), Daya Perumahan Sdn Bhd chairman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (front row, third left), Assar Senari Group of Companies chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Mohd (fourth left), Wei (second right) showing a replica of the Sheda Code of Practice at the official launching. KUCHING: Housing developers will eventually have to sign up as members of Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers' Association (Sheda) to enable them to obtain their developers' licence from the Housing Ministry. Sheda president William Wei said making it a requisite for developers to sign up with Sheda would be the ultimate target of the association. "We are working closely with the Housing Ministry as we believe that in order to regulate effectively, those who wish to become developers have to be registered members of Sheda." Wei said Sheda and the monitoring department of the Ministry of Housing would work closely to ensure that the behaviour of the developers be closely monitored as the main aim was to protect the interest of house buyers. Commenting on the Sheda Code of Practice (CoP) officially launched by the Housing Minister Dato Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday, Wei said the association was going all out to educate its own members on what had been spelt out in the code. "The education process is ongoing. They have to understand clearly what are the four parts of the code," said Wei, adding that the working committee of' Sheda would also visit each division in the State to explain the contents and functions of the CoP. "For those who have not joined us, we will also invite them to join us so that this code can be enforced effectively," Wei told reporters after the signing of master agreement between Assar Chemicals Engineering Services Sdn Bhd and Sheda cum the launching of Sheda Code of Practice. Wei, however, did not state how long the educating process of the code would take; pointing out that this would be determined by the working committee. He also noted that most of the housing developers were happy with the implementation of the CoP. "Most of the developers are professionals like CEOs or general managers. Maybe less than 10 per cent are being run China-man style. Ninety per cent of our members are professional people. That's why they are happy this CoP is being implemented." Wei noted that once the CoP had been effectively implemented, the Housing Ministry would then be able to work together with Sheda to ensure that those intending to be housing developers must become Sheda members. Earlier in his speech, Wei disclosed that more than 75 per cent of the registered housing developers in the State were Sheda members. He noted that the CoP would keep Sheda members in check, and ensure that houses purchased by the people would be delivered on time, within budget and of acceptable quality. "The CoP will allow greater accountability on the part of the developers with regards to alleged breach of conduct. Developers who cannot meet the standards of the CoP, we have to release them from Sheda." He said the CoP was launched with the objective to enhance the ethical conduct of housing developers and promote the best practices in all stages of housing and real estate development in the State. "With the CoP, Sheda members have to ensure long-term impact on the lives of house buyers in the years to come," said Wei.

Source from: The Borneo Post, 2007-04-21 Author: Violet Tay