SHAH ALAM, 29 Apr: The Executive Councillor for Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government, V Ganabatirao, dismissed allegations by the Dengkil Assemblyman, Shahrum Mohd Sharif, that the State Government is unprofessional in resolving the issue of the construction of 400 units of low-cost terraced houses, involving former plantation workers in Taman Permata, Dengkil.
He said that the State Government is finding the best solution and is offering 30 acres of land in Ampang Tengah, amounting to RM13 million, for the acquisition process from Sime Darby in July 2013.
He said that the Federal Government, through the Department of National Housing, the Ministry of Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government (KPKT), in the last letter dated January 16, placed some conditions on the State Government.
“The attitude of flip-flopping is actually from the Federal Government, which is unprofessional in solving problems and promises first,” he said when contacted by Selangor Kini today.
Ganabatirao said that one of the conditions set by the Federal Government is that the construction of the houses will not be done for free.
He said that this means the occupants have to buy the houses at a set price and the construction cost must be jointly borne by the State Government.
“The letter, with the conditions, was sent to the State Government on January 16. On January 17, we replied with the stand that we do not agree with the conditions set,” he said.
He said that so far, there is still no commitment or feedback from the ministry after discussions with the State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) and the State Government Secretary, Datuk Khusrin Munawi, on April 1.
On April 25, Shahrum claimed that the KPKT had agreed with the construction of the houses; however it has been delayed due to the unprofessional attitude of the State Government.
400 occupants were moved to the apartment in 1999 to make way for the construction of the Putrajaya project and they were promised terraced houses as an alternative accommodation.
However, 15 years later, the apartment, which was supposed to be a transit home, has now become their permanent home.
The residents became more worried when the transit homes could not be occupied safely due to soil settling, being too close to the gas pipeline, imperfect drainage, broken sewage drainage and cracks in the building.
All residents of the apartment are former employees at Ladang Perang Besar, Medingly, Galloway and Sedgley.
Previously, as an interim measure, the State Government ordered Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) to repair the current residences (apartment) with an allocation of RM500,000.
