December 2023 - First VP date lapsed

As November 2023 approached, I started to feel uneasy — there was no official notification about my unit’s Vacant Possession (VP), even though it was supposed to be handed over by December. Out of concern, I reached out directly to the developer via WhatsApp at 013-8980 899.

The admin confidently replied that VP would still happen in December 2023, assuring me that everything was on track. However, not long after, I came across some recent photos of the site — and I was shocked. The construction clearly wasn’t near completion, and it didn’t look like handover was realistically possible within that month.

Wanting to verify the situation, I did more digging — and that’s when I discovered a WhatsApp group created by fellow homebuyers. The group was not managed by the developer, and it became a valuable space where buyers shared real updates, frustrations, and photos.

What surprised me most was that the VP date was only shared via WhatsApp — and only if a buyer personally asked for it. There was no official communication via email, letter, or any formal notice, which was extremely unprofessional for such a major milestone.

WhatsApp Communication with GBG Sales Manager

After the initial target VP date was missed, GBG agreed to send their representative — Alex Tang, the Sales Manager for this project — to join our community WhatsApp group, which had been created on 16th November 2023 by concerned buyers.

The purpose of the group was to:

• Receive real-time updates on the site’s construction progress

• Clarify any uncertainties related to offers and promises made by the sales agents

• Track changes to the VP date and hold the developer accountable for timely communication

While this was a positive step at first, many buyers were still cautious, hoping that the presence of an official representative would finally bring clarity — but the inconsistencies continued.

Despite the presence of Alex Tang in the group, the VP date has been delayed multiple times and, up until today, none of the VP dates he shared have been fulfilled. Each time a new target was mentioned, buyers held on to hope — only to be disappointed again as deadlines came and went without any formal explanation or proper follow-up from the developer.

Here are the VP dates that were promised verbally or through the group: 

1. July 2024 / 3rd quarter 2024

2. December 2024 / 4th quarter 2024

3. March 2025

4. June 2025

5. No new date provided until today

This ongoing cycle of shifting timelines has not only caused stress and uncertainty among buyers, but also raised serious concerns about the credibility of the information provided by the developer’s representative.

During in Quarter 2 of 2025, Alex Tang informed the group that the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) would be issued on the same date as the Vacant Possession (VP) — 30th June 2025.

This announcement came as a shock to many of us. Up until that point, we had expected the CCC to be obtained prior to or well before the VP date, as is standard practice in most developments. The fact that both were now expected to happen simultaneously raised even more doubts about the readiness of the project and whether the handover would meet proper compliance and safety requirements.

Once again, this update was shared casually in the WhatsApp group — not through any official letter or formal announcement — reinforcing the pattern of poor communication and lack of professionalism from the developer.

Changes On Facilities

Another unexpected change we discovered was related to the project’s facilities. In the original brochure provided during the sales period, the development clearly listed only a Kids' Pool as part of the amenities. However, in recent updates, the developer has changed this to “Kids & Adult Pool.”

While this might sound like an upgrade on paper, the change was made without any formal notification, email, or written consent provided to existing buyers. For many of us, this raises concerns about what else might be changed without proper disclosure — especially since facilities play an important role in a buyer’s decision-making process.

Changes like this — even if seemingly positive — should be communicated transparently and with official documentation, not silently adjusted after commitments have been made.

In addition to the earlier pool facility change, several other facilities were altered or downgraded before the VP (Vacant Possession) date — without any written notice or formal communication to buyers. Our own access road as promised, instead we need to enter other Taman Perumahan road, La Cottage.

When questioned, the developer’s response was that the brochure was “for illustration purposes only.” While we understand that most brochures include a disclaimer, it’s important to note that:

• Many buyers based their purchase decisions on the features and facilities clearly showcased in the official sales materials.

• The brochure was used as a key marketing tool, and changes to those promised features should have been communicated transparently and in writing.

• A general disclaimer does not justify silently changing key amenities after buyers have signed the SPA.

Such changes, whether minor or major, impact the value and expectations tied to the property. Buyers deserve clarity, consistency, and timely updates — not last-minute surprises backed by fine print.

A = Kids Pool

B = Adult Pool

This also includes a complete redesign of the lobby areas across all four blocks, which turned out to be entirely different from what was shown in the original brochure — both in layout and overall finish. Additionally, there were unexpected changes to the building’s external paint colour and even the main signage displaying the condo’s name.

These visible elements, which form part of the project’s identity and appeal, were altered without any formal notification or explanation to buyers. While some may consider them minor details, for many of us who purchased based on the developer’s visual promises and branding, these changes feel misleading and dismissive of buyer expectations.

Changes on Brochure Disclaimer

While reviewing the latest brochure published on the official E’island website, I noticed something concerning — the developer had quietly updated the document to now include the phrase “Tarikh Jangka Siap: December 2025.”

This was never stated in the original brochure many of us received when we first expressed interest or signed the SPA. Back then, the brochure heavily promoted with offers like semi-furnished units, cashback, and private access roads.

The sudden change in the completion date raises several important questions:

• Why was this change made silently and without informing existing buyers?

• Does this reflect the developer’s actual internal timeline from the beginning?

• Was the original completion date ever realistic, or was it simply a marketing hook?

This quiet revision of publicly available materials without clear disclosure to signed buyers undermines trust even further and gives the impression that the developer is trying to shift the narrative post-delay — without accountability.