Hundreds of families from the Jinjang Utara Longhouse in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur have been relocated to the People’s Housing Project (PPR) Seri Aman since 2017, but there are still over 60 poor families totalling about 120 individuals who remain, reported The Star.
The Jinjang Utara Longhouse was intended to serve as temporary accommodation for some 6,000 squatters in the capital in the 90s, while their permanent homes are still being constructed by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
They were supposed to live in the transition homes for only five years, but they had to wait about 20 years before the PPR Seri Aman project was completed.
Worse, many families were unable to secure units at PPR Seri Aman, and city officials started tearing down flats at Jinjang Utara Longhouse so that vagrants and criminals can’t use the vacated homes there.
Some families even posted notices on their doors informing city officials that they are still staying there so their homes won’t be demolished.
The Star has learned that there are over 60 families holding either blue or yellow cards who are still staying there. Notably, yellow cards were distributed to families who were first relocated there in 1992, while their children were given blue cards. The yellow signifies greater priority in getting housing.
Among the families remaining is G. Gunasegaran, 25, and his sister 15-year-old G. Lawanya. Their mother was offered to buy or rent a unit at PPR Seri Aman, but she passed away in 2017 due to kidney failure. Then, Gunasegaran was informed that they are no longer qualified to buy or rent a flat due to his mother’s death.
“We have lived here all our lives and now just because my mother has died, does it mean we have lost our eligibility (to own a unit)?” he asked.
“Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) now says I am not entitled to the unit because I am single. I have a teenage sister who relies on me and I will not stand by and let her live out her life in this slum,” he said, adding that he was offered a rental flat outside Kepong, but he refused to accept the offer.
Meanwhile, 74-year-old Husin Moghni and his wife Peah Dollah, 72, were relocated to the longhouse 25 years ago. They now have six children, and are still hoping to get a flat from DBKL.
“I heard that many units have been sold and rented out to outsiders in Block A. These people have houses elsewhere yet are able to buy and rent units meant for longhouse residents,” he complained.
Arumugam Marimuthu, a long-time resident of the longhouse who is negotiating with city hall to get houses for the remaining households, said these families should be provided with homes as they are indigents.
“They should be given units because they fall under the extremely poor category and their struggles are real and must be addressed.”
Moreover, he has learned that some former longhouse residents were permitted to rent five units at PPR Seri Aman even though they only have one yellow card.
“That’s not fair at all when you still have many families stuck in the slum,” he explained.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng verified that non-residents and ineligible individuals managed to purchase or rents units at PPR Seri Aman, with the help of former government officials.
“My contacts in DBKL told me that some of these individuals managed to get the units after submitting support letters from former members of the previous administration to help them buy units.”
“These individuals are not from the Jinjang Utara Longhouse and are ‘non-deserving candidates’. I was even informed that some already own houses in other areas,” he noted.
In particular, Lim revealed that there are about 60 people not from Jinjang Utara Longhouse, who managed to buy or rent units. There are also 56 former residents, who managed to rent extra flats.
“This is not right at all; especially when there are still so many residents from the longhouse who are still living out there in the slums and waiting for their units. Priority should go to these families and not outsiders.”
As such, he is asking city hall how non-qualified families were able to obtain such flats. “Once I get the proof I need, these people will have to give up the units to those more deserving,” Lim added.
Image sourced from The Star
This article was edited by the editorial team of PropertyGuru. To contact them about this or other stories email editorialteam@propertyguru.com.my
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