Velasamy (fourth from left) presenting a souvenir to Shahrir (second from left) at the appreciation ceremony. — ZAZALI MUSA/The Star

JOHOR BARU: Residents of Kim Teng Park are relieved that the proposed acquisition plan for their housing estate has been postponed.

Residents committee chairman Velasamy S. Pillai said the state government should take into account their views and opinions before any development is proposed for the area.

He was speaking at a ceremony to show appreciation to Johor Baru MP Tan Sri Shahrir Samad for his role in assisting them to resolve the issue.

He said Shahrir had been instrumental in bringing the issue to Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s attention.

Velasamy hoped residents would also be fairly compensated should their area be acquired for redevelopment.

“The majority of the residents are senior citizens and this is the only property they own.

“They would have nowhere to go if their houses are acquired to make way for redevelopment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shahrir said the state government was given the wrong impression that Kim Teng Park was a “dead place” and that most of the residents have moved out.

He said it started when two of the houses in the housing estate were converted into hostels, each with 20 rooms for locals from other states working in Singapore.

Shahrir said the houses were turned into hostels without permission from the Johor Baru City Council.

“Instead of acquiring the housing estate, the state authorities should inject money to rejuvenate Kim Teng Park,’’ he added.

Shahrir said this would transform one of the oldest housing estates in Johor Baru into a vibrant place,” he added.