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Low-cost
housing project abandoned after 90% completed
06/08/09 The Star By CHAN LI LEEN
IPOH: In 1989, Rohayu Ariffin and Afandi Ahmad took a loan to buy a
low-cost house in Taman Sri Manong, Ulu Kinta here. The double-storey
house was to be their matrimonial home once completed in two years.
Sadly their hopes were dashed when the developer went bankrupt and
abandoned the project when it was 90% completed.
It has been 20 years now and the couple had moved into a rented premises
and have six children.
Housing woes: Lee (right) and disgruntled home owners viewing the
abandoned houses in Taman Sri Manong in Ulu Kinta, Ipoh, by buyers
yesterday. With them is Kampung Batu 5/6 Tambun village head Mohamad
Khalib (third from right).
“Our heart aches each time we see what was supposed to be our home,”
Rohayu lamented.
“We have developed a phobia of buying houses and have been renting ever
since,” added Afandi, 46, a railway train driver.
The couple are among a dozen buyers who showed Perak Barisan Nasional
Public Services and Complaints Centre chief Datuk Lee Kon Yin the
abandoned project here yesterday.
Seeking Lee’s help in getting the Housing and Local Government Ministry to
revive the project, the group told Lee they were still paying off their
housing loans.
Siti Aminah Tagiman, a 48-year-old housewife, said she had to pay RM178
monthly for a RM31,000 loan from the Treasury.
“I have to pay until the year 2016 and and on top of that, pay RM70 for
quit rent annually,” she said, adding that the buyers had sought help from
the ministry and state government for the past 12 years but to no avail.
”Some of the buyers have since gone elsewhere. Some have even passed
away,” Aminah said.
Kampung Batu 5/6 Tambun village head Mohamad Khalib Abdul said the houses
were constantly used as drug dens by addicts.
“We had a gotong-royong recently to clean up the place,” he said.
A check showed that unknown individuals had turned some of the lots into
chicken coups.
Lee, who urged the group to form a committee, said he would check on the
matter with the Ministry.
”I hope the relevant authorities will take up the matter and help these
buyers,” he added.
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