‘The people deserve certainty'

The Star

7 days ago

JOHOR BARU: Johor is working to address its remaining high-risk, problematic and abandoned projects.
State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said an action plan will strengthen approval policies and regulatory controls over new developments to ensure they are well managed with 'past mistakes not repea­ted'.
'The people deserve certainty, not indefinite waiting,' he said on the abandoned commercial projects in Johor.
Mohd Jafni said several abandoned residential and commercial projects have been taken over by local developers, adding that they included the apartment and commercial development in Greenland in front of Istana Bukit Serene.
'The Skudai Parade shopping complex is also undergoing redevelopment under new ownership.'
On the stalled Waterfront City Mall project, also known as Lot 1 building, he said the challenges were significant as it involved 354 individual owners.
'There is a lack of unity among the owners, making it difficult to reach a consensus or solution, which is further complicated due to the project having been abandoned for over 20 years with the building officially closed since 2003.
'The structure has deteriorated severely and is now considered a derelict site,' he added.
The exco member said despite many discussions over the years, there was no deal clinched and no company has been willing to take over or rehabilitate the building due to the high risks and complications involved.
On a brighter note, Mohd Jafni said 15 problematic housing projects have been revived, involving 3,265 housing units with a total value exceeding RM752mil as of June.
All the housing projects have been granted with Certificate of Completion and Compliance or Certificate of Fitness for Occupation.
In SEREMBAN, state transportation, housing and local government committee chairman J. Arul Kumar said 57 sites have been classified as brownfield areas in Negri Sembilan.
These included projects which were not completed or abandoned with previous occupiers having moved out.
He said Seremban topped the list with 22, followed by Rembau (nine), Port Dickson (eight), Jempol (seven), Kuala Pilah (six), Tampin (three) and Jelebu (two).
'Together with PLANMalaysia, we have come up with an action plan to see how best we can rehabilitate these sites, many of which have become an eye sore,' he added.
Arul said the authorities had problems rehabilitating certain abandoned projects as the owners were not cooperative.
Citing an example, he said owners would pay the quit rent on an abandoned project as failure to do so can lead to the state seizing the property.
However, they defaulted on assessment payments for years as there was no provision in state laws allowing seizure of properties under such circumstances, he added.
The exco member said once the proposed Urban Renewal Act was approved and enforced, a simple majority of owners could approve the redevelopment of an abandoned project.
He said abandoned projects on government-owned land such as in Gemas and Kuala Pilah were easier to resolve for redevelopment.
Arul said a building in Serem­ban city centre was being redeveloped to feature a hotel with over 170 rooms and suites, with its opening set for the year-end.
In KLANG, the stalled 28-storey Boss Service Suites is not only an eyesore but also poses a danger to those living nearby.
Resident Norliza Ismail said the building looked as if it could collapse and come crashing down on houses in the Padang Jawa neighbourhood that lies behind the massive structure.
'The design itself is creepy as it is a bottleneck structure with a wide top.
'I think a small tremor could bring it crashing down,' said Norliza who lives in the area.
She said the local authority must cordon off the building to prevent anyone going near it.
'The developer that built the structure must take responsibility and get another company to complete the construction or tear it down,' she said.
Restaurant manager D. Siva also said the presence of the building at the entrance to Klang city is an eyesore.
'For me, it is like a big hex hanging over Klang.
'Amidst all the beautification and landscaping initiatives, this white elephant is casting a dark shadow over the city.'
Siva urged the Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) to do something to shield those going in and out of Klang from the structure.
'MBDK should either order that the abandoned building be demolished or get the developer to sell it off,' he said.