Sarawak Government Stands Firm Against Developers Failing To Complete Housing Projects
KUCHING: The Sarawak Government continues to tighten monitoring of problematic housing projects to ensure the welfare and interests of homebuyers remain protected, including taking firm action against developers who fail to comply with development requirements.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian said actions taken include the suspension of developers’ licences and sales permits until full compliance is achieved.
According to him, the action involves the Treetops Apartments project in Bintulu, which is currently facing delays in completion.
He said the project, developed by Twin Revenue Sdn Bhd, is expected to be fully completed by the third or fourth quarter of 2026 after issues related to the 33KV substation infrastructure requirements by Sarawak Energy are resolved.
“To protect the interests of homebuyers, the ministry will suspend the developer’s licence and sales permit until full compliance is implemented,” he said.
He said this during his ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Tuesday.
He also said the Homebuyers Claims Tribunal serves as the official channel for purchasers to seek compensation for Liquidated Ascertained Damages (LAD) following delays in the handover of houses.
To date, three claims have been filed by buyers of the project, with two of them already receiving tribunal decisions.
In a related development, Datuk Amar Dr Sim said his ministry is also closely monitoring three housing projects by KS Tiong Sdn Bhd in Mukah, namely Taman Kingsum, Taman Indah and Taman Qinrara.
According to him, for the Taman Kingsum and Taman Indah projects, most housing units are nearing full completion and only involve remaining infrastructure works.
“The developer is currently undertaking project restructuring and seeking additional financing to expedite the completion of the projects,” he explained.
As for the Taman Qinrara project, he said only two units were successfully sold due to weak market demand, and the developer is currently examining several solutions including joint venture collaborations and refund processes for affected buyers.
Meanwhile, he said the state government remains committed to expanding affordable housing development across Sarawak through agencies such as Housing Development Corporation (HDC), Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) and Bintulu Development Authority (BDA).
He added that various initiatives have been introduced including the SPEKTRA Permata Scheme (RSP), Affordable Housing Scheme (RSM), RM10,000 deposit assistance under HDRAS, low-interest loans and anti-speculation measures to help first-time homebuyers, young families and the M40 group own homes.
According to him, the government is also exploring additional financing support specifically for the ‘missing middle’ group to ensure more comprehensive access to affordable housing throughout Sarawak. -UKASnews
