To serve or self-serve?
Datuk Chang Kim Loong: While most of them are genuinely passionate about the wellbeing of their communities, there are unfortunately some bad eggs with personal agendas who take advantage of their positions for self advancements.
Inheritance tax akin to punishing people's savings
Datuk Chang Kim Loong: Inheritance tax is effectively sending the message to civil society not to work so hard or to save money for investments but just to have a happy-go-lucky lifestyle and spend all that we earn as we will be taxed again when we die for any assets that we have accumulated from our years of blood, sweat and tears.
Beware the oppressive Private Lease Scheme
Datuk Chang Kim Loong: Most buyers are so trusting that they fail to recognise that they may be taking on a long lease that disguises itself as a conventional property purchase.
A clarion call for a new law to tackle neighbour from hell
A bad neighbour can take a huge toll on your life. From rowdy mid-week or wee-hour parties to dogs that bark incessantly and cats’ faeces at your doorstep, the excesses of inconsiderate neighbours are among the most annoying aspects in community living.
Virtual meetings — the way forward in strata management
Datuk Chang Kim Loong: Virtual meetings bring a host of benefits and ideally shall remain an option even after the pandemic has been controlled. Virtual meetings could also encourage more people to take part in general meetings as they are just a few clicks away.
End of Private Lease Tenure — what happens then?
Datuk Chang Kim Loong: Members of the public are also forewarned to be careful with any oral promises from any parties to renew lease tenures upon expiry which are not properly documented. The related case study would be the Marble Jade Mansion in Brickfields on issue of “promised” lease extension, but that is another story.
Ramifications of leasing out freehold land under Private Lease Scheme
Datuk Chang Kim Loong: This PLS issue may open up a new can of worms as owners of freehold land will now hold on to their ownership forever for the benefit of their future generations, like the feudal system of land ownership under the colonial days where land plots are granted by lease and licence to cultivate.
Extending the Defects Liability Period (DLP) protection post-CCC
Perhaps, a new set of contract of sale should be prescribed in the proposed new Schedule K (Post CC: Land & Building) and Schedule L (Post CCC: Stratified Property) to be included in the HDR.
Overhang properties precipitate developers’ ‘hangover’
The National House Buyers Association (HBA) believes the move by the Perak state government to speed up the release of bumiputera lots is a step in the right direction and will ultimately benefit all in the long run.
