Rokiah Mahmud
Effective September 1, 2020, there will be changes to the process and procedures to build a single unit detach house. Endorsement by departments including the Department of Road, Department of Drainage and Sewerage, Department of Water Services and Department of Electrical Services must be obtained by the Qualified Persons (QPs) who comprise architects and professional engineers, and Registered Building Draughtsmen (RBD).
This was announced during a dialogue session by the Ministry of Development (MoD) with QPs and RBD registered under the Board of Architects, Professional Engineers and Quantity Surveyors (BAPEQS).
The dialogue was held at Indera Pahlawan Hall, in collaboration with the Authority on Building Control and Construction Industry (ABCi) and the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP).
It is the responsibility of the QPs and RBD to obtain the departments’ endorsement as part of their feasibility study during the preparation of design proposal in ensuring that the overall infrastructure requirements are available and adequate such as road requirements, water and electricity connectivity, drainage and sewerage connections.
Approximately 80 per cent of the development applications in the country are to build single unit detached house.
It is hoped the new process will open many opportunities to own a house ensuring the quality of sustainable development through optimal and proper infrastructure.
During the dialogue session, QPs and RBD were informed on the process for house extension application and other types of development that does not affect the planning parameters, starting September 1 which previously required planning permission from the DTCP prior to an application for Building Approval to ABCi.
Briefings were also delivered by representatives from several departments including the DTCP, ABCi, Land Department, Survey Department, Department of Road, Department of Drainage and Sewerage, Department of Water Services and Department of Electrical Services.
The Ministry of Development also informed RBD on the types of development projects that are allowed to be carried out which is a residence not exceeding two storeys provided that the total build-up floor are does not exceed 300 square metres as stated in Section 50G (4): Restrictions in Registered Building Draughtsman, APEQS (Amendment) Order, 2018.
Through continuous dialogues, the Ministry of Development hoped that it will be fully utilised by the QPs and RBD to jointly improve the quality of services provided to the public an improving the performance in achieving the clients charter or TPOR.