Unfinished dream homes: 40 victims left devastated, suffered hundreds of thousands in losses

SHAH ALAM - Around 40 victims suffered losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of ringgit when a property developer fails to complete building their homes on their lands within the completion date

The company operating in Seri Kembangan had offered to build the houses at a price according to its design and package.

Masitah Sardi, 70, a government pensioner said she had paid over RM90,000 to the company to build her home on a piece of land she inherited in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

The victim said she was influenced by the service provided by the developer through a Facebook advertisement before heading to the developer’s office to see an exhibition held in January, last year.

“After being satisfied with the explanation given I paid a deposit of RM5,000 before signing the agreement to use the company’s services to build my home.

“I then paid the costs of the project in stages starting from RM39,000 in January, last year, followed by RM24,000 and RM19,000 in August while the last payment I made was RM9,000 in January (this year).

“The home was 60 per cent completed and the project is now abandoned after the company declared bankruptcy through a letter sent via WhatsApp.

“A police report was lodged in June as I felt cheated by the developer that seemed to have escaped from its responsibility after receiving the payments.

“I hope that people are not deceived by the services offered by the company because the advertisement is still on Facebook,” she said.

Security guard Mustafa Ishak, 56, said he intended to stay at his new home in Muar, Johor, but now it was impossible as the developer failed to complete the project.

“I paid RM68,000 last year, but when I realised that nothing had been done, I lodged a police report in May. The developer simply did the groundwork on the property for show and left it empty.

“I used my Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings for the house thinking that I could stay at my village after retiring, but I did not expect to be deceived by the developer,” he said.

Mustafa said he did a lot of research before making the decision to use the developer's services.

“I did not agree to using the company's services immediately and asked several other people who used the company’s services.

“Some had their homes built and it was among the reasons I agreed. But luck was not on my side when the promised project was being abandoned.

“I lodged a police report after the developer ignored me. I’m now in the process of taking the case to the tribunal for further action,” he said.

Another victim, Normina Mustafa said she had paid RM92,000 to the developer without any work done yet.

“Not even a single brick was laid. I have been waiting since August 2022.

“I am disappointed as they promised to build the house in December, but there was no progress,” she said on a construction project in Teluk Intan, Perak.