OVER a hundred residents of the community housing project (PPR) in Taman Manggis, George Town are living in fear of being without a home after around 20 others received eviction notices from the state housing board.
The notices to exit were apparently issued on grounds that the tenants and owners no longer fulfilled the terms and conditions to live in such heavily subsidised 320 units housing scheme, They also claimed that they were informed to relocate to Prai mainland where similar PPR units were available in higher numbers in a case which bears resemblance to the infamous "Kampung Buah Pala" housing relocation notice.
Many of the residents began staying there since 2014 and some of them gathered recenly to voice their displeasure over the matter.
This is the second time that residents in the housing scheme are protesting.
The first in 2019 when another 20 tenants were also issued a similar directive because they had exceeded the income required to stay in PPR - status units here.
PPR housing is strictly defined for families earning below RM1,500 monthly.
The state housing board had investigated and found that several families earned a combined income of up to RM3,000 while some of them, also have two vehicles living there.
PPR Taman Manggis Resident Associations deputy chairman Pannir Selvam said that the residents want a transfer of their status from rental only to rent to own status, which is applicable for other PPR schemes.
"We have invested heavily in our Taman Manggis homes. We prefer living here because it is also convenience and we hope the state can consider this."
He claimed that his pleas have fallen on deaf ears with the board and he was unable to secure an appointment to meet the state exco for housing Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo for the past month.
Selvam said that all of the residents were B40 low middle income status, including disabled and the elderly.
Earlier, when launching a gated and guarded facility at Taman Manggis, Sundarajoo, the Perai assemblyman had spelt out the conditions for living there.
Firstly after upgrading the security standards there, Sundarajoo reminded the tenants to pay up their maintenance fees on time to avoid penalties.
“The market value of the units will be much better when maintenance fees are collected efficiently,” Sundarajoo said.
He also revealed that PPR occupants must vacate their units for those in greater need once their household income improves after three years.
“Residents with a household income of RM1,500 are eligible for the units. If their income surpasses RM1,500, they can consider the rent-to-own (RTO) scheme.
“We can’t be letting them stay in the PPR units forever, as we must prioritise those in need,” he explained.
When told about the residents' grouse, Komtar assemblyperson Teh Lai Heng urged those unhappy to refer the matter to Sundarajoo.
In 2019, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had reminded the residents that the homes in Taman Manggis was defined as a "transit" home as once the residents are able to earn above the poverty threshold, they need to relocate elsewhere.
To this, Selvam said that the residents continue to struggle to live above the comfort margin, especially the disabled and the old.
"It is best we re-categorise the status to rent to own and we will buy up the units by deducting the rental sum, we had paid previously."
Selvam urged the state to meet the residents to allay their fears, as many do not have anywhere else to go if they are evicted.
"The mainland (Prai) is just too far. We were born on the island and work here," said Selvam. - November 10, 2025.
