Housing Needs

by Chuah Bee Kim

source NST online

And also in the Johor Streets today

Pix by Norbaiti Phaharoradzi

JOHOR BARU: Some 22 families from Kampung Sungai Danga and 127 families from Kampung Bakar Batu who are due to be evicted from their homes are looking to have their housing woes resolved.

Kampung Sungai Danga village head Surip Abdullah, 35, said residents had approached him for assistance in seeking alternative housing and to get compensation for the relocation.

On Sept 15, the residents received letters from a private developer, which stated that it wanted the land back and they should move out by the end of the month.

Surip said the District Land Office confirmed that the residents were squatting on private land.

“The problem is that some of the squatters have been living there for 60 years.”

Surip said the matter had been raised with the state.

“We are waiting for a reply from the authorities.

“The menteri besar can only help if the residents are squatting on government-owned land,” Surip said.

“But the state government could help them through other means.”

“The residents are appealing that we find them temporary homes and help them buy low-cost houses before they have to move out.”

“The government has housing schemes for the poor. We need to find out which scheme is applicable to the villagers,” he added.

Surip, who is believed to be the youngest village head here (a village head has to be between 35 and 65 years old to be sworn in) said the residents’ eviction was the biggest challenge he has had to face.

“Kampung Sungai Danga is a large area and includes residential areas such as Taman Bukit Indah, Taman Perling, as well as villages such as Kampung Tuah Jaya, Kampung Sungai Pinang, Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Temon and Kampung Orang Asli Bakar Batu.”

“Dengue is also an issue. However, there were no reports of dengue in the rural areas. In Taman Bukit Indah there are five cases,” he said.