KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Housing Ministry cannot interfere in the issue over the repossession of 19 low-cost houses in Stutong that are being handled by the court.
Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it was a private matter between the developer and the buyers.
“We have held meetings to discuss this problem but now that the case has been brought up in court, it is not right for the ministry to interfere,” he told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony of Samarahan District Council councillors and Chinese New Year gathering at the civic centre here yesterday.
“We do empathise with their situation but from my understanding it was the court that gave the order to repossess the houses after the buyers failed to repay their loans,” he said.
Property developer Ibraco Bhd on Tuesday explained that the repossession of the 19 low cost houses was done after several buyers reneged on the payment of installments while others had not paid a single sen in the past four years.
“I am also made to understand there are several who have not paid any installment for up to eight years. The buyers should know that they can’t possibly live in the houses for free,” he added.
Abdul Karim also said that several of the buyers even refused to sign the loan as well as sales and purchase agreements when the houses were handed over to them.
