KOTA BHARU (Jan 9): The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability is in the midst of improving the Strata Titles Act 1985 (Act 318) to address issues related to strata housing, particularly for low- and medium-low-cost units.

Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that the amendments are being made through engagement sessions with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, local authorities, and relevant agencies, including the Department of the Director General of Lands and Mines (JKPTG), the National Housing Department, and the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia.

He said that this step is taken to ensure that the strata schemes being developed would meet the legal requirements, including the preparation of strata title documents.

His ministry, through the JKPTG, also established the Strata Ownership Special Trust Fund (TKHS) in 2018 to address the issue of the lack of strata titles for special building schemes in Peninsular Malaysia, according to the minister.

“Special buildings refer to buildings occupied between June 1996 and April 11, 2007, as classified by the state authorities,” he told a press conference after the mock title presentation ceremony for the Desa Seri Maju Padu Apartment Scheme in Penambang here on Thursday.

Nik Nazmi said that problems often occurred when developers failed to apply for subdivision of the building for strata title registration due to the lack of necessary documents or because the developers had ceased operations.

“This situation forces strata unit buyers to bear additional costs, including quit rent arrears, land premium payments, measurement fees, and strata title applications,” he said.

Nik Nazmi said that through the TKHS initiative, State Land and Mines Offices could apply for funds from the JKPTG to address the issue of strata title registration for eligible schemes.

“As of 2024, the TKHS has provided funding for the registration of strata title for six special building schemes in Peninsular Malaysia, amounting to a total of RM2.6 million.

“Of that total, six schemes were successfully registered, including the Desa Seri Maju Padu Apartment in Kota Bharu,” he said.

According to Nik Nazmi, the Seri Maju Padu Apartment Rural Scheme received TKHS funds amounting to RM90,580.48, which were managed under the supervision of his ministry and the JKPTG.

“The strata title for this scheme was successfully registered on Aug 1 last year through the cooperation of the federal and state governments. A total of 40 buyers have been residing in the apartment since 1991,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nik Nazmi said his ministry, in collaboration with the state government, is monitoring alleged illegal mining activities across more than 1.2 million hectares of land believed to contain rare earth elements.

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