House buyers cry foul over discrepancy in prices

13/3/2004 The Star By ELAN PERUMAL

THIRTY buyers of low-cost flats in Taman Berangan, Port Klang, are in a huff over the price of their homes. 

They claimed to have paid RM4,000 more for their homes than some 80 other buyers of the same property. The buyers said they paid RM42,000 while the others paid only RM38,000. 

A total of 112 flats were built in the project. 

The residents claimed that the developer, Lee Man Constructions Sdn Bhd, had failed to refund the money though it had promised to do so. 

Zakaria (centre, in white shirt) looking at the list of names of the buyers.

More than 50 people, including the house buyers and their family members, brought the matter to the attention of Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Mat Derus, who visited them at the project on Monday. 

House buyer Jaaliah Ibrahim, 29, who acted as spokesman for the aggrieved buyers, said the developer had initially priced the homes at RM42,000 but later reduced the price to RM38,000. 

She said they were the first batch of buyers who booked the homes at the original price, but the same homes were offered at a discount to those who booked later.  

“The developer decided to reduce the price after finding it difficult to sell the homes,” she told Star Metro. 

Jaaliah said the developer promised to reduce the price of the homes for the 30 buyers who had booked earlier. 

“The developer told us that the extra RM4,000 would be refunded to us, but this did not happen. 

“We have made many telephone calls to the developer’s office but have been unsuccessful in getting the refund,” she added 

Zakaria, who will be contesting the Port Klang state seat in the general election, said he would personally take up the matter with the relevant authorities. 

He said he felt sorry for the house buyers, who had been shortchanged by the developer. 

“These people came from squatter homes around Port Klang and they should not be taken for a ride,” he said 

Zakaria said the house buyers were unable to move into their homes as they were afraid that the developer would not refund their money once they had moved in. 

Meanwhile, Lee Man manager Joanne Loke said the house buyers’ allegation was not true as the developer had not made any promise to refund the difference to them. 

She said the buyers had signed the sale and purchase agreement to buy the flats for RM42,000 and there was no way they could reduce the price of the units. 

“They bought the flats before we brought down the price and the question of us refunding the difference does not arise,” she added.