KUALA LUMPUR – Don’t leave residents in public housing to maintain basic facilities, but conduct open tenders to hire maintenance companies for all low-cost housing properties and hold them accountable for the services they render, said DAP’s Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran.
His suggestion comes after Putrajaya allocated millions to fix amenities in all 67 People’s Housing (PPR) and Public Housing (PA) projects here.
He added that if the government takes over the maintenance of these housing projects, it can ensure that they are clean and safe, and that lifts operate properly at all times.
“After all, if the government is responsible for cleaning the streets and maintaining water pipes and playgrounds for landed property owners all this while, it is only fair to take care of these basic necessities for low-cost housing residents too.”
Rajiv drew a comparison with HDB flats in Singapore that are managed by the government and not left to residents.
“(In Malaysia) many residents in low-cost housing are low-income earners and find it a burden to make monthly maintenance payments, especially now in these trying economic times.
“It is often a chicken-and-egg situation, where those who can afford to pay maintenance do not get the service they deserve and those who can’t or don’t pay still want services rendered to them.
“As a result, management committees often have to deal with very difficult circumstances with regard to the collection of maintenance fees and providing the necessary services,” he said in a statement today.
He added that public housing maintenance is a structural issue and basic facilities such as lifts, wiring, water pumps, and cleaning services are often neglected until breaking point.
“Then the government steps in as a ‘hero’ to fix these problems on an ad-hoc basis. We must not wait until the living conditions in low-cost housing deteriorate and become unsafe before stepping in only when necessary.”
Last Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Kuala Lumpur City Hall had been allocated RM127 million for replacement of old lifts at the PPRs and PAs.
He said of the total allocation, RM8.4 million would be channelled to the Seri Perak PA, which has been in existence for 35 years, for the replacement of 14 elevators at seven blocks.
In addition, he said DBKL allocated RM1.8 million for electrical wiring at the housing project. – The Vibes, October 18, 2021
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