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Target set on
reviving abandoned projects
16/05/2009 The Star By YIP YOKE TENG
THE Selangor government has set a target to revive at least 30 of the
state’s 147 abandoned housing projects by the end of the year.
According to state housing, building management and squatters committee
chairman Iskandar Abdul Samad, the target is highly achievable as the
efforts under the state’s economic stimulus package are progressing well.
He said the list of companies and the abandoned projects they took over
would be released in a month’s time.
Iskandar said more than half of the 60 abandoned projects put under the
purview of a task force headed by Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib had
attracted the interest of contractors and developers, who were negotiating
with the original owners on the takeover plan.
“The state policy is not going to pump money into these abandoned projects
which will require between RM5bil and RM9bil to revive as its annual
budget is only RM1.5bil, but will invite investors to revive these
projects,” he said.
Iskandar said this when meeting complainants at the Petaling Jaya City
Council (MBPJ) yesterday.
“However, the state can help in resolving land matters and offering easy
payment schemes to companies taking over projects with arrears in quit
rent, which in some cases amount to RM1mil,” he said.
Iskandar said eight projects with 2,000 units were revived last year.
He said the difficulty faced by state government was that some projects
attracted too many interested companies while others had none.
Iskandar said escalation of project costs was a matter of concern, too,
making it not viable to revive some projects.
He also said the state was calling in experts to provide input on the
urban renewal programme, another scheme under the economic stimulus
package.
Iskandar said it was not time yet to reveal the contents of discussion but
assured residents that their views would be considered.
“We will make sure we get the residents’ approval before embarking on any
project in their areas. That’s our policy,” he said.
Iskandar will be visiting other local councils to listen to public
complaints. The next stop is Kajang Municipal Council.
Yesterday’s session at the MBPJ complex was dominated by complaints
pertaining to condominium and apartment management, to which Iskandar said
he would study it case by case.
Councillor K. W. Mak, meanwhile, assured residents that the MBPJ audit and
good governance committee would take close heed of their complaints and
take action against the unscrupulous contractors.
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