SEBERANG JAYA: Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin says the Penang government should have a discussion with evicted Taman Manggis People’s Housing Project (PPR) residents to reach an amicable solution.
“The feedback must be from the residents and not from any spokesperson or agent,” she said at the International Women’s Day celebration here today.
“The meeting should be held in a structural manner and find ways to explain the decision taken by the department to make them understand.
“No need to sleep there (Komtar)...political drama will go nowhere.
“I believe today it (meeting) can be held and the state government can handle the matter.”
Zuraida said she had contacted state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo for an explanation, and was satisfied with it.
Recently, people living in more than 20 units at the Taman Manggis PPR were evicted because they had, among other things, defaulted on rent and maintenance charges, had incomes that were above the limit for eligible tenants, married foreigners or owned other property.
Some of them have decided to make the Komtar walkway their “new home” until a solution is provided.
Zuraida said the rent of RM100 imposed on Taman Manggis PPR residents was low.
“As a minister, my emphasis is firm enforcement must be taken,” she added.
In the northeast district of Penang, where Taman Manggis PPR is located, there are 734 applicants on the waiting list for PPR units, and 494 are applying units at Taman Manggis PPR.
Zuraida said the ministry wanted to develop more PPR projects in the state and had identified land in Kampung Kastam in Gelugor, Teluk Kumbar and Balik Pulau.
“At the same time, we want to educate the B40 community on how to manage their finances,” she said.