COMMENTARY

Buyers’ Perspective on Quality: Root Cause & Solutions

By Oliver Wee

The lack of quality in the construction industry seems to be a common feedback from end-users. A disgruntled purchaser these days may even upload a YouTube video complaining about quality of a newly-handed-over condominium. Such complaints do not only arise in residential developments, but also in commercial and industrial projects.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON COMPLAINTS FROM END-PURCHASERS?
Home purchasers would know that after they receive the key to their unit, there is a liability period to claim any defects for the next two to three years. Although they are somewhat protected against defective works, it is still an inconvenience to file a complaint, make an appointment with the contractor for a visit and go through all the processes until the rectification works are completed. Such inconvenience would be aggravated if the purchaser already lives in the unit.

Additionally, if the purchaser has already carried out their own renovations to the unit, a complaint may lead to a dispute as to whether the defects are caused by the original construction or the renovation works. Also, if the defect is in areas with a new built-in cabinet, for example, it would be difficult to rectify without causing potential damage to the renovation works.


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Oliver Wee

Oliver HC Wee is best known in the construction industry for his long involvement with Master Builders Association of Malaysia (MBAM) as a tireless champion of contractors’ rights. He started as a committee member in 1993 and has been continuously and actively involved in the development of the construction industry. Currently, Wee is the vice president of MBAM and the chairman of the Contracts and Practices committee, a position he has held since 2012.

He is also a mediator empanelled MBAM with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC). In the past, he has been called upon to act as Alternate Director to the Construction Labour Exchange Board (CLAB 2014 to 2018), organising chairman for the 6th Malaysia Construction Summit 2014, and many other events. Wee has also actively participated in the Common Infocomm Technology Programme (CITP) initial working group on integrity and governance, as well as a drafting committee member in the technical committee system Pengurusan Anti Rasuah (TC/0/1), initiated by Malaysia Association of Standard Users into ISO 37001.