He issued the challenge in response to the recent statement by SHREDA rebutting his earlier statement concerning the late issuance of strata titles for high-rise buildings and apartments.

Dr Yee had claimed in that statement that there were some unscrupulous developers in the state who seemed to deliberately delay the application of strata titles so that they could benefit from the monthly ‘maintenance fee’ which house purchasers have to pay.

“I’m very disappointed and saddened by what had been said by the association and their insensitivity towards the plight of the consumers,” Dr Yee said.

He said unless they could give assurance that none of the developers had ever take advantage of the house purchasers, they were not qualified to issue the statement in question which was rather misleading.

“Besides, they also owe the house purchasers, especially those who were victimised, an apology for issuing such a misleading statement,” he stressed.

On the association’s request to him to submit the list of the developers who have misused the fund together with evidence so that immediate action can be taken against them, Dr Yee said he has plenty of such complaints and was in the midst of compiling them.

“I will give a copy (of the complaints) to them soon,” he said.

Dr Yee also called on those house purchasers who were unhappy with their developer to acquire a copy of their annual accounts (for the last few years) in order to determine that everything is in order.

“If they (the house purchasers) encounter any difficulties in acquiring the annual accounts, please contact me. I will assist them to get it,” he said.

It was reliably learnt that some of the developers who were acting as the temporary management corporation (TMC) failed to have their annual accounts audited.

One known case that was highlighted by the New Sabah Times some four years involved a flat in Likas. And until today, the house purchasers have yet to receive their strata titles.

The late issuance or the non-application of strata titles by certain developers has landed many house purchasers in a dilemma, especially when they were faced with poor maintenance.

Under the existing law, house owners or tenants of a high-rise building are only allowed to set up or appoint their own management corporation to maintain the common properties, after they have obtained the strata titles.

Apart from this, house buyers are unable to sell their property due to the late issuance of strata titles.