Market Info
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Bill to Temporarily Reduce Impact of COVID-19 Gazetted The Temporary Measures Act to Reduce the Impact of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) 2020 was gazetted on October 23.
his Act comes into force for two years from the date of publication in the Government Gazette on October 23, or as the date and period of effect as has been provided in any relevant part of the Act. Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said in a statement that the Government “had always been committed to and concerned with efforts to reduce the impact of COVID-19 not just from the health but also economic aspect for individuals and companies”. He added that the implementation of the Act as a whole can benefit every individual and company that is affected by the economic aspect due to the spread of COVID-19. The Act was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 25 and in the Dewan Negara on Sept 22. He stated that contractual obligation disputes can be settled in an amicable manner without
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involving legal processes in court but through the COVID-19 Mediation Centre that is set up under the Prime Minister’s Department. The mediation service is open to everyone with disputes involving RM300,000 and below. The government, he stated, would also bear the mediation service cost for those in the B40 and M40 categories as well as those in the small and micro enterprises. Among others, the Act will prevent developers from imposing late payment charges on unpaid property instalments by purchasers should they default from March 18 to Aug 31 this year.
Developers must also exclude March 18 to Aug 31 from the calculation of the defect liability period and the period for developers to carry out works to repair or make good of other defects in houses which have been purchased. Also, no warrant of distress can be taken against tenants who have been in arrears of rent from March 18 to Aug 31. Owners of goods will not be able to repossess goods under a hirepurchase agreement as noted in Section 16 of the Hire-Purchase Act 1967 for any default instalment for the period of April 1 to Sept 30 this year.
Queries on the mediation centre can be sent to pertanyaan@pmc19.gov.my.
Malaysia Retailer Vol 8 No 4
