Are the authorities blind to victims of abandoned projects?

(From New Straits Times (Malaysia))

EVEN with all the supposed protection embodied in the Housing Development (Control & Licensing) Act, hundreds of thousands of house buyers continue to grapple with problems such as shoddy workmanship, late delivery, deviation from approved building plans and non-issuance of title deeds. To find the root of all these issues, and more, we only have to look at the current "Sell-then-Build" (STB) mode of housing delivery where developers are allowed to collect money upfront even before starting on their projects. However, these setbacks pale in comparison with the devastating effects of housing projects that are abandoned. Over and above the derailment of their plans to own a home, they have to continue paying for the housing loan (plus interest), as well as rent for a house to live in.

Such a scenario is downright unacceptable - how can they be expected to simply shrug their shoulders and accept …