KUCHING: The Sarawak Housebuyers Claims Tribunal is expected to start operations in July following the appointment of woman lawyer

Datuk Marjana Dasmi as its chairman, effective May 18.

State Housing and Development Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg said the timeframe to settle each claim would be determined once the tribunal was operational.

The old state assembly building had been earmarked as venue for the tribunal sitting, he told reporters after the handing over of appointment letters to the tribunal members here.

Besides the chairman, lawyer Thomas Akin Jelimin was appointed deputy chairman, while the other tribunal members are engineer Alhadi Ibrahim, architect Mike Boon Chee Khian, economist Robert Elone Sireng, quantity surveyor Morni Wahie and registered valuer Peter Lim Thiam Seng.

Abang Johari said among the conditions were that claims should be filed not later than 12 months from the date of issuance of the occupation permit or end of the defect liability period as stated in the sale and purchase agreement, the house should be built on land for residential use only and the claim should not exceed RM40,000.

He said sale and purchase agreements signed before May 1 were eligible for consideration provided that the claims met the set conditions.

The Housing and Rural Development Ministry would act as secretariat for the tribunal.

"The tribunal encourages the parties involved to go for arbitration before the hearing of the case, like holding preliminary discussions between the developer and the housebuyer," he added. -- Bernama

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