MBAM supports CIDB’s decision to retract quality guidebook for homeowners

• MBAM president Oliver HC Wee said in a press statement on Nov 15 that many building inspectors have “misinterpreted or even misused the guidebook” and have ill-advised homeowners on their property defects.

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 22): Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) supports the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia’s decision to retract its quality guidebook for homeowners, said MBAM president Oliver HC Wee. (pictured)

The guidebook, published in 2014, aims to educate homeowners regarding workmanship quality in building construction. However, Wee said in a press statement on Nov 15 that many building inspectors have “misinterpreted or even misused the guidebook” and have ill-advised homeowners on their property defects.

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“There have been instances where building checkers have ill-advised house buyers by improperly relying on benchmarks such as the Quality Assessment System for Building Construction Works (Qlassic), which is a method used to evaluate the quality of work of a particular housing development through quality assessment done by random sampling, which should not be utilised for single-unit housing.”

This has been an ongoing concern for the association, said Wee, as contents of the guidebook are seen as defect specification, resulting in developers requesting contractors to rectify and bear the repair costs.

On Nov 14, CIDB Malaysia announced, via a press statement, its decision to retract the guidebook, citing misinterpretation of information of the guidebook as a defect specification. The board added that any existing copies or citations from the guidebook are rendered unusable and void.

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