HONG KONG: The Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan is leading a 16-member delegation on a technical visit to Hong Kong from 19 to 22 March.
The visit is in view of the fact that Sarawak is determined to benchmark itself with other cities in foreign countries with respect of the issuance of strata titles for buildings constructed for sale to the public in major cities.
This is particularly so when more multiple-use and multiple type of developments are taking place in the cities which face some constraints with the existing Strata Titles Ordinance (STO) 1995.
Speaking to the Hong Kong authorities during a meeting with the State delegation yesterday, Awang Tengah said that strata type of development was not new to the State.
“In fact the first STO was enacted in 1974, and thereafter, our current STO was enacted in 1995 and has been in use since then.
“However, as the complexity of development and demand increases, the current law is now inadequate to cope with the changing trends and needs. Additionally, strata management is not adequately covered,” he added.
He pointed out that the State has been involved in the process of amending the Strata Title Ordinance and drafting a new Strata Management Ordinance.
By doing so, leaders of the State felt that it was crucial to benchmark against laws, regulations and practices in other countries which have more experience with strata development and strata living.
The Deputy Chief Minister added that the visit aimed to study the scope and experience of strata development and strata management so that the State could emulate them.
Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister for Urban Development and Natural Resources, revealed that the objectives of his delegation to Hong Kong included:
(i) To study other countries’ legislations and practices in the registration and issuance of titles, and the management of various types of strata development – multi-storey, landed, and mixed-use schemes;
(ii) To learn from other countries’ the approach in dealing with issues, disputes and tribunals in managing community living and management corporations, including that of public or affordable housing schemes;
(iii) To have a better understanding of related issues such as phased development or construction, flexibility of allowing design change or building plan amendments in approved strata schemes, share units and share value allocation, acquisition of strata properties, termination of strata schemes, etc.
(iv) To benchmark the draft ordinances against best practices in other countries to ensure the proposals are adequate and practical.
The delegation also attended a meeting with the Buildings Department on Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS), Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme (MWIS), Building Maintenance and Control, and Enforcement against Dangerous Buildings.
The delegation comprised Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian (Minister for Local Government and Housing), Datu Len Talif Salleh (Assistant Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment), Dr Annuar Rapaee (Assistant Minister for Housing and Public Health), Datuk Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid (State Attorney General), Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar (Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources), Bakrie Zaini (Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing), Zaini Mahdi (Director of Land and Survey Department) and senior officers from the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources, Ministry of Local Government and Housing, State Attorney-General’s Chamber and Land and Survey Department.
