GEORGE TOWN: More than RM18 million in rental arrears is owed to the state by tenants at the People’s Housing Project (PPR) and council rental units.
State Local Government Housing Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the arrears were RM11 million when he took over the housing portfolio and had increased in five years.
He said some of the defaulters were able to pay for their entertainment bills but not their rental and maintenance fees.
“If they can pay Astro, why can’t they pay rental and maintenance fees?
“Our standard operating procedure (SOP) is when a unit has (an) Astro (satellite dish) but yet to pay arrears, we will serve a notice to inform that we will remove the satellite dish. This has proven effective because that’s when we see payments being made.
“What is more important? A roof over your head or Astro?” he told a press conference here today.
On Wednesday, 22 tenants of the PPR were evicted and their units locked up.
The state government claimed the families were evicted as they were no longer eligible as tenants.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had said that among the conditions that were not met were that the tenants being Malaysian citizens, paying their rents and having low income.
Many of he families initially took up shelter at the Komtar walkway but they eventually left, leaving behind only five families.
Yesterday, following intense negotiation, the tenants accepted the state government’s offer of alternative housing and left Komtar.
Jagdeep, who is Datuk Keramat assemblyman, said the 22 evicted tenants had been informed about news of their evictions five months ago.
“Of the 22 units that were issued notices, 11 households voluntarily vacated the premises, while enforcement actions were taken against the remaining 11 units.
He reiterated that the PPR units were for those earning less than RM1,500 and when a tenant earned more than the amount or was found to have another house, he or she would lose eligibility to occupy the PPR unit.
“This does not mean that they are not eligible for other housing categories such as rent-to-own, low or medium cost units and affordable units,” he said.
He said two of the families that camped out at Komtar had accepted rent-to-own units for RM42,000 with monthly installments of RM175 with RM58 monthly maintenance fee, bringing the monthly commitment of RM233.30 for 20 years.
“Losing the eligibility for PPR housing does not mean losing the eligibility for other housing units,” he said.
He said the other tenants had decided to purchase low or medium-cost units at RM72,500 each in the northeast district.
“Based on the development yesterday, we have resolved this problem,” he said, adding there were three cases yet to be dealt with.
“We always give the tenants a grace period before eviction and they can approach the relevant agencies to upgrade their status during that period,” he said.