With reference to Claudia Theophilus' article 'End systemic abuses in delivery of houses, authorities told', I would like to make a few comments about the problem.

I think there is no point in complaining to the Housing and Local Government Ministry as it should be renamed 'Housing Developers' Ministry'. The ministry has never had the house buyers' interest at heart. The previous minister could not even force the developers to contribute to the abandoned house fund although it was law. So you can see how great the influence of these developers are. They are untouchable!

The way the public can take action is either through the courts or through politics. Going to the court to fight the developers is not a solution as most of the house-buyers lack money to go through the whole process.

Therefore, the only way the public can do something to pressure the government is when elections come. Consumer bodies and the National House Buyers Association should make it a political issue and get voters to vote for the opposition in areas where the housing minister stands for elections. They also can do the same to the deputy minister and the parliamentary secretary.

Get PAS, Keadilan, and DAP to take up the issue. Raise a great ruckus and highlight all the poor people who have been conned by these unscrupulous developers. Make it highly uncomfortable for all the people in-charge. Galvanise everyone to unseat the minister. When he loses his seat for his ineptitude, then there will be action.

So when is the best time to do it? We all know that elections is coming. So what are all the NGO's waiting for? Strike while the iron is hot!