Engaged Architect Centre to Inspect Houses to Protect
Your Rights
the developers, contractors,
architects and engineers were
requested to submit their
resolutions and feedback to the
Ministry of Local Government
and Housing on the conference.
A New Luxury Living
Landmark to Rise in
Kuching
The three resolutions submitted
by PAM Sabah Chapter were: •
PAM Sabah Chapter, Chairman, Ar. Victor Wong
The PAM Sabah Chapter has
urged the public to engage the
Architect Centre, Malaysia to
check their houses to protect
their rights.
Its chairman, Ar. Victor Wong,
said there are 32 building
inspectors in Sabah who are
accredited by the Architect
Centre, Malaysia, 21 of whom
are architects and 11 are either
engineers or quantity surveyors..
“Their professional services
could prove invaluable to house
purchasers who are mostly nontechnical and unable to judge if
the work has been constructed
to specifications, and if the
works are of reasonable quality
and workmanship,” he said in a
statement yesterday.
According to him, the building
inspector’s report can
protect the right of the house
purchasers, especially if there is
any dispute and the case ended
up with the Housing Tribunal.
The building inspectors carry out
inspection and identify defects
during vacant possession and
before the expiry date of the
Defects Liability Period.
The range of services provided
by the Architects Centre are:
Structural Deficiencies; Defective
Roofs/Ceilings; Defective
Plumbing, Dampness, Leakages
and Electrical Safety; Slope
Stability, Retaining Wall and
Drainage, and Safety, Security,
Regulatory Checks i.e. unsafe
and illegal renovations.
“Property is a big
investment, and it will be penny
wise and pound foolish, if the
building defects are not checked
before possession. One might be
ended up with recurring cost of
maintenance and being unhappy
in his own dream home,” said
Victor.
He said the professional fees
charged by architect building
inspectors are small, and
generally less than RM1 per
square foot, depending on
the types of buildings and the
complexity of the jobs.
Victor lamented that most
people are forgetful most of
the time. He was referring to
the Sabah Housing Conference
2009, organized by the Ministry
of Local Government and
Housing, the theme of which
was “Good Governance Towards
Quality Housing and Services”.
“The question of poor quality
of workmanship happening to
the MM2H (Malaysia My Second
Home) properties is a big
surprise, since the selling prices
is over a million ringgit, even for
a semi-detached house. How can
the quality be compromised for
such expensive and profitable
project?” he asked.
“If such trend happens to
the MM2H homes, then it is
unthinkable what will happen
to the thousands of units of the
affordable homes, of which the
selling price is much lower, that
are to be erected in the coming
years?”
After the Sabah Housing
Conference 2009, he said all
•
•
The introduction of the
Building Inspection Services
as part of the process in
deterring poor quality of
workmanship, identifying
building defects and
rectification;
The training of Clerks of
Works to ensure that they
understand their roles
and responsibilities in the
building indu