Ong: Developers must get it right
26/05/2007 The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The onus is now on developers and landowners to ensure speedy approval of housing projects, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

He said the setting up of one-stop centres for fast-track approvals would allow the Government to shorten the process to between four and six months.

“Developers and landowners must be sure of what they want to do with their land and not simply change their plans,” he said at the Mapex 2007 official opening ceremony here yesterday.

“We do not want people in the industry who sell houses just to make quick money,” he said.

On unjustified capital and financial contributions imposed by state governments on developers for various purposes, Ong urged the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Malaysia (Rehda) to speak to the state authorities.

Later, during the launch of a book titled Lifelong Learning Guide II, at the opening of the nine-day BookFest@ Malaysia 2007 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Ong said the book would provide the public with a better understanding of lifelong learning.

“We want to send out the message that life will be more meaningful if we continue to learn,” he said.