KUALA LUMPUR: The maximum claim of RM25,000 provided for by the House Buyers’ Claims Tribunal is reasonable because the amount is not meant to cover the price of the house, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

''I am confident that the claim ceiling is fair for all parties as it is not for the total cost of the homes but is based on each case, such as certain defects in the homes, late delivery and so on,'' he said.

''I think we should give the tribunal a chance to function. We should give it some time before we can see whether the claim limit is reasonable or not,'' he told reporters after attending the People’s Progressive Party open house celebrations at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

Ong, who was asked to comment on grouses by developers that the claim limit was unreasonable, said the Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Act had just been enforced but some developers were already refuting it by bringing it to court.

The tribunal, which will start hearing cases from next month, will handle claims of less than RM25,000 while those that involved sums above RM25,000 will go to the courts.

Ong said the ministry had carried out thorough discussions before amending the Act.