Homebuyers left in limbo as Residensi Hektar, Gombak faces ongoing delays

SHAH ALAM - Frustration and financial strain are mounting among Residensi Hektar, Gombak homebuyers left in limbo as the housing project faces years of delay.

Single mother Normalia Mahat, 24, was among those grappling with the double burden of paying housing loans for uncompleted homes while juggling mounting living expenses, leaving their dreams of a secure and stable future shattered.

The healthcare assistant, who was the sole breadwinner for her family, shared that she has been paying RM1,550 monthly since 2022, with no progress on the house, under the Federal Territories Affordable Housing Project (Rumawip).

"I am now extremely worried about the condition of the house I bought. I have been paying RM1,550 since 2020 and next year will mark the fifth year without any progress. Where can I report my problem?," she told Sinar Daily.

Juggling to care for her child who is in Form 1 and her 80-year-old mother, Normalia said she has taken on two jobs to make ends meet.

Her concerns extended to her approaching retirement, which added another layer of anxiety to her already overwhelming situation.

"Instead of paying RM1,550 for an incomplete house, I could have provided so much more for my child’s education. This delay has shattered my dreams of a secure future.

"I have served the government for 32 years and in 12 years, I will retire. Where will I stay after retirement? I was willing to sacrifice unnecessary purchases to own a house, but what have I gained?," she lamented.

Another buyer, assistant accountant Mohd Sobrie Bin Md Noor, 39, echoed Normalia's frustrations highlighting the financial and emotional toll of the delays.

He said he had been paying a total of RM1,500 monthly for three years while also paying rent for temporary housing.

Sobrie also shared how the delay has disrupted his carefully planned life. For him, it was not just a financial burden but an emotional ride too.

"With the rising cost of living, I’ve had to make many sacrifices just to keep up.

"I had planned everything around the expected handover date. This delay has upended those plans. It’s not just a financial burden, it’s an emotional one too," he said.

He urged relevant parties to take immediate action on the completion of the project.

For 31-year-old safety officer Mohd Harith Adham Haidzir Adham, the delays have led to additional financial burdens.

Since 2022, Harith said he has been making full payments of RM1,352 to RHB bank and had to withdraw his Amanah Saham Bumiputera savings to settle RM13,090 in arrears due to billing mismanagement by the developer.

Harith, who was also servicing a RM1,400 monthly loan for his current home, described the strain of making dual payments.

"This is extremely burdensome, especially with school expenses for my children, commuting to work and health issues.

"The ongoing delays and uncertainty around Residensi Hektar's completion made financial planning and saving nearly impossible," he added.

Homebuyers were pleading for transparency and accountability from developers and authorities.

Many of them have expressed dismay over the lack of clear communication and recourse.

Launched in 2017, the Residensi Hektar, Gombak project comprised 2,400 residential units ranging from 800 to 850 square feet, priced between RM266,000 and RM299,000.

However, it is understood that the project has been abandoned for over a year, despite homeowners having begun paying full monthly installments since December 2022.

Earlier this year, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the project was still classified under the "sick" category.

She said the residence has experienced delays compared to the work schedule outlined in the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) and has failed to be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

The actual progress on-site remained at 84.75 per cent, with only minimal work being carried out, which did not result in any significant progress.