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HOMING IN ON E-HOME
Savvy house buyers usually do a fair bit of research before investing in properties. Their task will be made simpler when the Housing and Local Government Ministry launches its e-Home portal in August.
Scouting for homes will then be at the click of button. The portal contains information about housing projects and details of developers.
The Ministry’s secretary- General Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail said that the portal would help house buyers pick and decide.
“The status and updates about developers would be put up on e-Home. House buyers can check the background of the developers to see if they have a good record or have been blacklisted”. “Through the portal, house buyers can also find out if development on the property they have purchased has been abandoned. They can then go to their bank and reschedule their loans,” he said.
E-Home, which will be made accessible through the MyGovernment portal, www.gov.my, will also cater to developers.
“It is for everyone who wants to learn about the housing industries. All aspects of it will be put up. Students who are doing research can also obtain information through the portal,” said Ahmad Fuad.
He said the functions of the National Housing Department would be featured in the portal, including the relevant acts, policies, regulations, guidelines and by-laws.
Fuad said that once e-Home is up and running, applicants for low-cost homes could also register online.
Similarly, he said, disgruntled house buyers would be able to lodge complaints online to the House Buyers Claims Tribunal.
“They can keep track of their cases online, but will still have to attend the hearing in
person,” he said.
The portal also facilitates housing developers in their dealings with the government.
Eventually, the submission of relevant applications will all be done via the e-Home portal.
“The system will tell you where and what happen to your file. It promotes efficiency and transparency,” he said.



Teh Eng Hock. 2008. Homing in on e-Home. The Star.

June 23, sec. SS39.