Housing Ministry Face Teething Problems In OSC Implementation
05/07/2007 Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 (Bernama) -- The implementation of the one-stop-centre (OSC) to speed up approval of development plans by 98 authorities since June 13 is facing teething problems due to conflicting interpretation of the guidelines.

However, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the local authorities were sorting out the issues.

"Initially, we faced problems but we have taken immediate actions to rectify them.

"We are confident through close monitoring, a lot of things will be in order in the next few months," he told reporters after opening the Eighth Malaysia Architecture, Interior Design and Building Exhibition (ARCHIDEX 07) here today.

About 600 local and international companies are participating in the four-day exhibition.

The one-stop centres were set up to expedite processing, including for land applications for projects, and approval for building plans within a six-month period.

Ong said the ministry had actually anticipated some teething problems during the initial implementation and had informed all the local authorities and state governments to refer to the ministry for immediate clarification and rectification.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) president Dr Tan Loke Mun said one of the issues was to determine who should sign the building plan approval application form.

Tan said previously, it was the architect who signed the form for approval by the local authority but under the new ruling, the architect was the authority to approve the Certificate of Compliance and Completion (CCC), thus creating confusion among local authorities on whether they should also be approving the building plans.

Since June 13, a new system was introduced for building approvals, where instead of the Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CFO), a Certificate of Compliance and Completion (CCC) would be issued by professionals like architects and engineers for better guarantee on the safety of the buildings.

"The local authorities have acted immediately to sort out the confusion. It has now become clearer to everybody," Dr Tan added.

-- BERNAMA