New Method To Speed Up Approval Of Development Projects
23/03/2007 Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, March 23 (Bernama) -- A new method has been formulated for the speedy approval and implementation of development projects both in the public and private sectors.

It will be applicable for projects such as housing developments, high impact investments and others.

The mechanism was approved by the National Council for Local Government at its meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here Friday.

"The new system will speed up the implementation of high impact projects and those based on the build and sell concept," he told reporters after the meeting.

He said it represented a paradigm shift in processing land development applications.

To be announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on April 13, Najib said that it would be an improvement on the time-consuming approval system currently in place.

"Based on the decision by the prime minister, the Housing and Local Government Ministry has seriously studied a system for processing land applications for development projects such as housing and others," he said.

He said details of the new method, which has been endorsed by all state governments, would be explained by Abdullah.

"They (state governments and local councils) have to take some procedural actions before the prime minister announces the new system," he added.

The meeting also approved the appointment of local council presidents as Building Commissioners in their respective areas.

"This will enable buildings to be well maintained. While waiting for the strata title to be approved, the buildings can be managed by council presidents in their capacity as Building Commissioners," he said.

-- BERNAMA