By Gan Pei Ling
SHAH ALAM: House buyers are being urged to be wary of agents, including politicians, who claim to be able to secure low-cost housing for them.
"The state has never appointed any agent or [intermediary] to facilitate the purchase of low-cost [flat units or houses]," said Iskadar Samad.
The state executive councillor for housing issued the warning after 20 people staged a protest in front of the state secretariat yesterday afternoon.
The protesters claimed to represent 686 house buyers at Taman Botanik Klang, Taman Selayang Mulia, Taman Harmoni Balakong and Taman Intan Cheras who have been cheated by the state.
Their representative, Durrany Izam, alleged that a PKR politician had promised to help them secure low-cost housing from "political quota", and they had each paid him a RM2,100 deposit.
Durrany said the "Datuk" had claimed to be a special assistant to the Menteri Besar and a board member of the Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS).
"We want our houses... Otherwise, the state should return the deposit to us," he said.
However, Iskandar said he had never heard of anyone by the name provided by the victims.
In addition, political secretary to the Menteri Besar Faekah Husin said the state has lodged three police reports against this individual, and confirmed that there was no such person working for the Menteri Besar and in LPHS.
She said the LPHS letterhead had been forged by the individual to mislead the victims.
In a separate case, 32 people were each cheated of RM2,500 by a politician who claimed to be able to help them secure housing at Impian Seri Setia Apartments in Sungai Way.
Iskandar said LPHS had lodged four police reports against this politician in the past six months.
"Don't believe anyone claiming to be an agent from LPHS or the state," he said.
Source: Selangor Times Issue 48 (November 11-13, 2011)