The Housing and Local Government Ministry has appointed five professionals to act as arbitrators for the National Housing Tribunal to ensure faster disposal of cases filed by disgruntled house buyers.

''Previously, the tribunal had only one chairman responsible for handling the cases received by the tribunal.

''We have appointed another five into the tribunal with power to hear complaints by the various parties,'' said Deputy Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui.

''With this increase, the tribunal can now sit and hear cases for five days every week. This will help to ensure faster settlement and enable more cases to be heard,'' he said.

The ministry may also set up mobile hearing panels so that they can be dispatched to preside over cases throughout the country for the convenience of houseowners and developers and to save costs.

To a question, Chin said the new members were very experienced lawyers and retired judges.

He said that at present, the tribunal was in Kuala Lumpur and all housing disputes had to be heard there even though they might involve cases in far away states.

''If there is a need and if there is a possibility of helping to save travel costs (for the parties involved), the tribunal members may be allowed to go on mobile rounds to hear cases in the different states,'' he said.

''The ministry also has a housing complaint monitoring committee to settle housing disputes via a round-table discussion.

''Unlike the tribunal, this committee has no legislative powers but it can help settle cases via mutual agreement if the parties involved prefer not to go to court or use the tribunal,'' he said.

Source: The Star (13/05/2003)