Squatters waited five years to get keys to houses

14/08/2007 The Star BY PARVEEN GILL

SOME 800 squatter families who were relocated by City Hall to the KTM longhouses in Pantai Dalam will receive keys to their new homes soon.

Women, Family and Commu-nity Development minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the families were the last batch of squatter families to be relocated from the KTM longhouses under the City Hall Kerinchi Public Housing Project (PPR) in Pantai Dalam.

“The families have waited for more than five years to move to their new homes but the project was delayed by the first contractor,” she said.

“After their contract was terminated, Syarikat Perumahan Nega-ra Bhd took over and now 1,896 units of low-cost flats in six blocks are ready to be occupied. The City Hall has finalised the occupancy list,” she said, adding that she hoped the families would be able to move in by Hari Raya.

Shahrizat was speaking after launching the Unity Day at PPR Kampung Kerinchi, organised by Federal Territory (FT) National Unity and National Integration Department, yesterday.

The event was part of the country's 50th Independence Day celebrations and was jointly organised with the FT Ministry and the FT Culture and Arts and Heritage Department.

More than 1,000 people attended the daylong event, which included gotong-royong and cultural performances.

On a related matter, Shahrizat said she had received many en-quiries on whether the PPR rented units would be sold to the tenants.

“I will bring up the matter to the Cabinet and persuade the government to put the units up for sale. It is a battle but if we are persistent, sooner or later even the prime minister, ministers and deputy ministers would agree,” said Shahrizat.