Number of delayed, abandoned housing projects expected to increase

The number of delayed, "sick" and abandoned private housing projects is expected to increase due to the effects of the movement control order which saw development projects halted to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Deputy Local Government Development Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the task force for sick and abandoned private housing projects had identified 110 delayed projects, 435 sick projects, and 112 abandoned projects as of March 31.

"The task force evaluates the number of projects on a monthly basis because the status of a project can change dramatically – from a healthy state in one month, the project may become sick or delayed in the next month.

"We were given the picture at the last meeting that there could be a further increase, but I have not announced the statistics yet," he told reporters when visiting two sick private development projects in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He said the main focus of the task force was to reduce the number of sick projects by going to the field and finding solutions to ensure that developers fulfil their responsibilities to complete the projects.
 
"There are several aspects that we look into, including the developer's ability to complete the project and the problems faced. The task force will try to facilitate the process," he said.

He said the task force would also make a projection of the projects that would be problematic in the future and take into consideration proposals for improvements including amending Act 118 (Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966).