JB developer ordered to pay US$2.58 million to condo owners, including Singaporeans, over delays

The owners of 84 units in R&F Princess Cove, a waterfront development overlooking the Woodlands Causeway, were awarded compensation for delays involving their units and shared facilities. The developer intends to appeal the decision, its lawyer told CNA.

Amir Yusof 05 Nov 2026 08:56AM (Updated: 05 Nov 2026 10:13AM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST JOHOR BAHRU: The developer of a high-end Johor Bahru condominium has been ordered to pay RM10.56 million (US$2.58 million) in compensation to a group of property owners, including Singaporeans, over delays in completing the project.

The Johor Bahru High Court ruled in favour of claims involving 84 condominium units in Princess Cove, finding that the developer, R&F Development Sdn Bhd, had breached its agreements with buyers by splitting the original first phase of the project into two.

This meant some buyers received their keys while parts of the sprawling development, including some shared facilities, were still unfinished.

The court, however, dismissed claims involving another 39 units, ordering the unsuccessful buyers to pay RM10,000 (US$2,454) in legal costs per unit to R&F. These buyers had signed their purchase agreements after the developer changed the building plans, according to lawyers involved in the case.

R&F's lawyer Josiah Tea told CNA the developer intends to appeal the ruling, which the purchasers’ lawyer and a property observer say underscore the importance of developers honouring the terms of their agreements with buyers, and will prove instructive for prospective buyers of Johor Bahru property.

Some successful claimants told CNA they were relieved by the outcome after a years-long legal battle. They said parts of the development were still under construction when they received their keys, affecting their experience living there.

R&F Princess Cove is a sprawling waterfront residential and commercial development in the heart of Johor Bahru, located adjacent to the Johor-Singapore Causeway.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less An aerial view of Phase 1 of the R&F Princess Cove condominium in Johor Bahru, Johor, on Nov 4, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Zamzahuri Abas) Developed by China's R&F Group, Princess Cove’s proximity to Singapore is a key selling point, with a 650m covered pedestrian bridge connecting the development directly to Johor Bahru's Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex.

According to a draft court order seen by CNA, the dispute centred on R&F's decision to divide the original first phase of the development into two separate phases, known as Phase 1A and Phase 1B.

Buyers of units in three residential blocks – A1, A2 and A7 – received their keys on Oct 25, 2017, but the original Phase 1 development was only completed in November 2018.

The court ruled that because R&F had breached the purchase agreements by splitting Phase 1 into two, November 2018 should be treated as the relevant handover date instead of October 2017.