A total of 1,261 housing developers blacklisted by the Housing and Local Government Ministry will not be allowed to participate in any housing development projects beginning 2015.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung, said this was because beginning 2015, the government would enforce a new law, with the concept of 'build first, sell later', to protect buyers from abandoned housing projects.

"The blacklisted developers, together with 4,150 individuals and board members of the companies involved, will not be given another chance to handle a housing project.

"This is a part of the government's efforts to ensure that the public will not fall victim to abandoned housing projects caused by irresponsible developers," he told reporters here today.

He said if the blacklisted developers would like to get back in the business, they must first complete their abandoned projects and clean up their company records.

Meantime, Chor said the government was working closely with banks and financial institutions to ensure that the law could be implemented in 2015.

"Under the new law, each housing developer will have to bear 90 per cent of the cost of the project because the buyer will only pay 10 per cent of the house price upfront and pay the rest of the price when the project is completed by the developer," he said.

The minister said the government was also in the midst to help urban poor to own a house by implementing 45 people's housing (PPR) projects nationwide beginning next year.

"In Pahang, five PPR projects will be implemented, namely in Pulau Tioman, Benta (Raub), Jerantut, Penor (Pekan) and Sungai Ular (Kuantan)," he added.

Earlier, Chor presented house keys and certificates of fitness for Taman Desa Mesra housing project here today. The Taman Desa Mesra housing project was abandoned for 25 years before it was revived by the government at a cost of RM11.8 million.

Present were Pahang Housing, Transportation and Basic Amenities Committee chairman Datuk Soffi Abdul Razak.