The 815 households living in the rundown Jinjang Utara longhouses are now in the process of getting their permanent houses at PPR Seri Aman after waiting for 25 years. But some may not be able to live there after all due to conditions set by the Housing Ministry, reported The Star.
According to Arumugam Marimuthu, President of the Selangor and Federal Territories Community Association (Permas), residents are being required to settle their outstanding rental balance so they can proceed with the purchase of a flat in the PPR project.
On top of RM100 booking fee, they have also been asked to pay RM3,771 in lawyer’s fee, government service tax and a fee for sales and purchase agreement.
“Although the RM45 monthly rental was waived from 2014 onwards, some of the residents have raked up thousands of ringgit in rental arrears. Many of them are very poor, so how will they settle the outstanding amount plus afford the many payments needed to purchase a unit in PPR Seri Aman?”
“There are also costs involved with moving into a new home such as installing grilles, lights, fans and buying furniture,” he said.
As such, many of the 634 residents who took part in the unit balloting are desperately trying to come up with ways to pay the rental arrears and fees, after a DBKL officer told them that those who fail to fulfil their financial obligation will be provided with PPR units elsewhere in Kuala Lumpur, but they will not be allowed to live PPR Seri Aman in the future.
63-year-old Kuppama Munian, who lives with her son and two grandsons, said she is the only person working in her family as her son has not yet found a job.
“I work as a cleaner and earn RM800 a month. I have rental arrears of RM5,500. How am I going to pay that amount with my low income? I have spent more than RM3,000 fixing the leaking roofs, broken doors, piping, wiring although it is the responsibility of DBKL.”
“Now, I am being pressed for money. How am I going to raise it in three months?” she said while crying.
Another resident, 24-year-old G. Gunase-garan, who lives with a younger sister, said his mom was qualified for a flat in PPR Seri Aman. However, she died last month and a DBKL officer informed him that he is no longer allowed to purchase as he is single.
“I have a job as a cleaner and can afford to pay the instalment but the DBKL officer said since I am not married, I am only eligible for a bachelor’s house (rumah bujang) in Cheras. What about my sister?”
As such, Kepong Community Service Centre Head Yee Poh Ping is urging DBKL and the Housing Ministry to provide a PPR unit to all the longhouse residents, including the second generation.
“I also hope that DBKL will deal with each family on a case-by-case basis instead of imposing a blanket ruling, as these people are desperately in need of help.”
Meanwhile, Arumugam is worried about the 181 longhouse residents who have not yet been called to draw lots for a unit in PPR Seri Aman. While no date has been announced yet, city hall assured them they will be included in the next session.
Image sourced from The Star
Radin Ghazali, Content Writer at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email radin@propertyguru.com.my
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