JCW

110)[Judicial Review against decision of Tribunal for Homebuyer] Justin was counsel for the Applicant for Judicial Review in this case. The Court inter-alia held that :- -Pursuant to s16AE of the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966 (“the HDA“), the tribunal can only adopt procedures it thinks fit and proper subject to provisions of the HDA and any regulations made under the HDA. -The tribunal cannot ignore the express provisions in the HDA and regulations in making and adopting any procedure. A template “Surat Wakil Kuasa Bagi Menghadiri Pendengaran” which allowed a homebuyer to authorise a third party to represent him/her was contrary and ignored the provisions of the Part VI of the HDA. -Therefore, the tribunal’s decision in allowing the third parties to represent homebuyers at hearings before it went against the purpose and intent of setting up the tribunal, which was to provide a quick, simple and inexpensive forum for homebuyers to pursue their claim against housing developers. -This ability to appoint a third party which was not extended to the housing developer went against the natural justice principle of rule against bias. Therefore, the decision to allow a third party to represent the purchasers at a hearing was procedurally improper and the tribunal had breached the principles of natural justice and failed to observe the procedural rules laid down in the HDA by which the tribunal’s jurisdiction was conferred.