Contractor ordered to pay RM25,000 compensation for unfinished renovation

JOHOR BARU (March 5): A contractor has been ordered by the Consumer Claims Tribunal to pay RM25,000 compensation for failing to complete the renovation of a house in Masai.

The claimant, Kym Leong, 35, was awarded the amount when the contractor did not show up for the hearing, reported The Star.

Although she sought RM47,504 as compensation, tribunal president Rashidah Abu Bakar explained the tribunal’s jurisdiction was limited to RM25,000 and below.

If the claim is not honoured within 14 days, the contractor will stand to face a criminal charge.

*Retired teacher left with unfinished renovation after contractor goes missing

Leong, a bank manager, recounted that the contractor she hired for her new house went missing after she had paid more than 90% of the renovation costs.

“I started engaging with the contractor in June last year and made the first payment on the same month.

“A total of RM74,172 was paid in the span of six months since he started working for me as he consistently asked for money to buy materials,” Leong lamented, adding that the value of the work completed so far was only RM26,667.

She said the contractor had become uncontactable since January this year.

“I later found out that he had also stolen the original window frame of my house as well as the access card and keys to the house.”