By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, March 7 — Thirty-six out of the 118 residents of Kampung Bunga Raya longhouses in Subang, facing eviction orders, will begin receiving offer letters from the state administration for a new home beginning today.
State executive councillor for poverty eradication V. Papparaidu said this is part of the efforts to resolve the long-standing issue.
The new houses, which are under the purview of the Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS), are located in Alam Perdana and are priced at RM42,000 per unit.
He said that although LPHS has allocated 118 units for those affected, only 36 of the residents are currently eligible to purchase and move in.
“Today, we will begin to provide the offer letters to these eligible residents, who will then have to decide whether they wish to take it up,” he said during a press conference at the State Secretariat Building today.
Also present was the state executive councillor for housing Borhan Aman Shah and Kota Damansara state assemblyman Izuan Kasim.
Papparaidu said the resolution was made following deliberations with Borhan and Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari on February 8, adding that the heads of households who have died or are too old to seek loans can nominate one family member to take up the offer.
Meanwhile, Borhan reiterated the state administration’s commitment to resolving this perennial issue but lamented that the matter had been politicised.
“This is not a state matter, as the eviction order came following the conclusion of a court case. But we are committed to finding a resolution.
“Sadly, the issue has been played up politically. Having said that, the Menteri Besar instructed us to find ready-made homes under LPHS, and we have already allocated 118 units.”
“I also have to stress that these residents have to purchase the houses as they are not given for free, although they are ready for occupancy,” he said.
The longhouses in Kampung Bunga Raya are a temporary settlement for more than 90 families who faced decades-long uncertainties after a housing project in Section U5, which they were supposed to move into, was abandoned by the developer.
They moved to the longhouses located on state-owned land in 1993 as a temporary solution by the state government at the time, which promised to provide a new settlement.
However, the residents were surprised that the land they currently reside on was recently sold to a private developer. The company then ordered their eviction without providing any alternative solutions.
