GEORGE TOWN – Residents of the Kg Melayu flats in Air Itam here welcome the idea to develop any new housing project that can provide them better comfort.
This came after the condition of their one-bedroom and two-bedroom housing units caught the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Jelajah Perpaduan Madani programme in Kg Melayu yesterday.
Residents’ association chairman Abdul Aziz Bukhari said the Kg Melayu flats, which comprise 950 low-cost units, are over 50 years old and no longer suitable for the current situation.
Aziz, who is also the Kampung Melayu village representative council chairman, said most of the residents have also paid up their respective residential units through the rent-to-own system.
“There are over 3,600 occupants in the two blocks. Block A has been occupied since 1968 and Block B since 1978. So many have lived here for more than 50 years.
“Out of the 950 units, 135 are two-bedroom units while the rest are one-bedroom units. The one-room units were sold at RM15,000 each while a two-room unit was priced at RM19,000,” he said when contacted today.
Aziz said the residents are of the opinion that the most appropriate way was for the state or federal government to redevelop the existing housing area.
He said renovating or improving the units with additional rooms would be difficult as the floor area of the unit is only about 500 sq feet.
“The residents here are excited by the prospect of getting to live in much more comfortable units because most of them have large families,” he said.
Meanwhile, another resident, M. Lakshya, 42, said her family had been living with her mother at the flat ever since her father died five years ago and it was difficult having to live together in a one-room unit.
“I have two sons. Imagine those with more children. It is necessary to develop a new housing project with three-room units like most of the houses now.
“Anyhow, I wish to thank our prime minister for his concern over the residents here. We hope a discussion on the development will be held,” she said, adding that her father bought the unit 50 years ago.
Yesterday, Anwar in his speech at the Jelajah Perpaduan Madani programme, said he would discuss with the Penang government bringing about some changes to the Kg Melayu flats.
“I can’t promise more because this is the state election season. If I make more promises, it’s an offence because of the election rules, but believe me when we have the power we will implement it well,” he said. – Bernama, August 6, 2023
