BY PRIYA MENON AND VINCENT TAN

The abandoned motorcycles that are a hazard to the children's safety.

SELANGOR’S local authorities should focus on their core speciality of providing municipal services for residents instead of playing landlord and building superintendent for the People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats in the state.

This is one of the recommendations made by the Selangor state assembly’s Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) during the recent state assembly seating after hearing on the maintenance of the low-cost flats.

In the paper presented by Selcat member and Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim on Aug 18, the committee found that PPR Kota Damansara’s management (from rental collections, resident registration and relocation once their transit period ended, maintenance and security) was in a disappointing state under the Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) watch.

“Half of these issues continued when Perumahan dan Hartanah Selangor Sdn Bhd (PHSSB) took over the management. Although ownership legally lies with MBPJ, PHSSB is the direct manager of the PPR Kota Damansara,” the committee said.

Ng said this was a perfect example of many PPR flats’ problems, which stem from land ownership issues, including PPR Kota Damansara that was built on Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) land by the Federal Government, and had not been surrendered to the state government.

The state then appointed MBPJ to manage the flats, while maintenance was handed over to PHSSB.

“This is the cause of the confusion over the different roles of the authorities involved in repair and upgrading works for Kota Damansara PPR,” Selcat noted.

It was also found that rental collection during MBPJ’s management tenure at Kota Damansara was only RM30,000 a month, while losses amounted to RM70,000. Out of the four PPR flats in the state, MBPJ was still directly involved in the maintenance of the PPR Lembah Subang which was equally in disarray.

Selcat also recommended that rental rates be evaluated from time to time and for the state government to top up any shortfall in rent to ensure residents’ safety. Although PHSSB was now managing the place, Selcat said the rental, ranging between RM124 and RM250, was not enough for daily operations, let alone repair works.

In fact, during the hearing held earlier this year, both PHSSB and MBPJ cited lack of funds as the core reason behind the inability to conduct repair and maintenance works in PPR Kota Damansara. Another recommendation that was noteworthy was Selcat’s believe that the state government should ensure the management body for the PPR flats prepared public facilities such as community halls to hold various activities.

These three were among the seven findings and recommendations proposed by the Selcat committee. During the debate following Ng’s presentation, Kota Damansara assemblyman Halimahton Saadiah Bohan had additional recommendations for the state government to consider in addition to the ones proposed by Selcat.

She said the state government should consider a “hire-purchase” model for eligible tenants to help the residents develop a sense of ‘self-belonging’ to the area. Citing the poor environment and maintenance as one of the factors behind residents’ and tenants’ lack of “ownership” for the area, Halimahton expressed her disbelief that tenants had sought her help.

“They were asked to vacate their units, as they were in arrears,” the assemblyman explained, adding that PHSSB should allow some leeway for the delinquent tenants to negotiate payment with the housing body.

“If they leave the PPR flats, there is no where else for them to stay. In Kota Damansara, the minimum rent is RM800 a month for a unit,” she said.

While some tenants had applied for zakat assistance, she said PHSSB required half of the arrears in payment before giving permission for the tenant to do so. State housing committee chairman Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad said the delinquent tenants were welcome to negotiate and work out a payment plan with PHSSB. However, with new approaches, he said rental collection was now almost 100%.

Currently, the Selangor government, through PHSSB, is directly managing the Kota Damansara, Kampung Baru Hicom and Serendah PPR flats, while Lembah Subang was being managed by MBPJ.

“MBPJ has requested to refurbish Lembah Subang,” said Iskandar.

Petaling Jaya mayor Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain said the council had applied for an RM7mil allocation to help repair and upgrade Lembah Subang’s infrastructure.

“If we can, we would place the management of Lembah Subang under PHSSB, so that we can concentrate on our core business of providing our council services, rather than try and collect rent,” said Mohd Azizi.

It was learnt that Lembah Subang’s arrears totalled about RM14mil, accumulated since 2005.