Government steps in to revive abandoned project in Johor
The  Star 25/8/2006 BY FARIK ZOLKEPLI

JOHOR BARU: After nine years of anxious waiting, the 1,000 over house buyers in the Taman Desa Rakyat Perdana project in Masai near here heaved a sigh of relief last week when no less than the Prime Minister came to hand over the mock key signifying their houses were ready.

“We are not wealthy people. I have waited since 1998 to enter the house that I bought,” said Amir Rashid Ahmad

“The long wait contributed to my financial burdens,” said the 60 year-old taxi driver.

He added, however, that he was grateful to the government for completing the housing project af-ter the developer failed to do so.

The 1,030 house buyers were supposed to have got their homes in 2001 but the housing project was abandoned that year. If the Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) had not stepped in to revive the project in 2004, they would not be proud house owners today.

Nik Rashila Ghazali, a single mother of two, had to take loans to make ends meet due to the delay in the completion.

“Since my husband died of a heart attack 10 years ago, I have had to take care of my children myself.

“We waited nine long years but hopefully all of us can move in now,” said the factory operator.

Mohd Azmi Hashim and wife Radiah Zainuddin were thrilled to receive the mock key from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“On top of getting to enter the house, we also got to shake hands with our leader.

“We are all grateful to him for mobilising the government to take over the housing project,” said the overjoyed parents, who have four children aged between two and 14 years.

In his speech, Abdullah said that all obstacles could be overcome.

“The government have only the people’s welfare at heart. All of this is for you (the house buyers).

“I hope the residents will be content with the comfortable homes and beautiful surroundings,” he said adding that the SPNB had done a rescue good job.