I APPLAUD the appointment of Mr Soh Kee Hean as the deputy
executive director of the new Council for Estate Agencies (CEA)
('Top cop to police real estate agencies'; Tuesday).
As the top man at the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, Mr
Soh has experience in tackling corruption-related offences and will
help establish a no-nonsense approach in regulating the real estate
industry.
Many consumer complaints about the real estate industry arise
out of the absence of fair and widely accepted written agreements.
It is easy for real estate agents to promise the sky and lead
consumers to make decisions based on their words.
I recently complained about the conduct of an agent from an
accredited real estate company. After hearing my complaint over the
phone, the company's senior director was reluctant to initiate a
meeting for the parties involved. He said it was a case of my word
against his agent's, and that he could do little to help.
With the formation of the CEA and Mr Soh's appointment, I am
hopeful again that many such 'verbal' cases can be resolved. Unlike
most crimes that present physical evidence, prosecuting offenders
in corruption-related offences often involve only verbal
testimonials and other collaborating facts. I hope the landscape in
which real estate agents ply their trade can be reshaped with the
authorities coming in hard and fast.
Henry Ong