Immediately after it was reported that TSKI will continue the zero squatter program, others members of the Barisan Alternatif quickly jump into the issue and criticize TSKI for its stands. It appears there is an independent opinion within the coalition. This is good news for the people. It means that their representatives are independent and not following their leaders blindly or as it popular practice by the previous administration ” Saya yang menurut perintah”
In my writings I had always promote the concept of governance. A good government is a government that focus on its people. In fair governance we need to promote what is best for the people. Having to live in a clean, organized and well balance environment is importance. Squatter’s colonies are associated with many social, environmental and health problems. Getting rid of them and throwing them in the street is NOT the answer. That will only makes things worst. Just because new government of Selangor is a pro- people government, it should NOT allow people to set up stalls at every street or it should allow people to put up 4 poles on any state land and turn it into housing. We should get the right perspective on what would be good for the majority.
When I talk about the issue of squatters, I do not see it from the problem from being limited to lack of proper housing only. It is a social malady that ties up with poverty, crime, health and many other social ills. The basic issue here is that the people in this colony needs help. The focus should then be in helping them.
The government must continue to help those poor deserving families. I have been to some squatter areas and see people having many nice big cars. Walk into any low cost flats and you look at the cars that are parked in the parking lot. Looking at the cars, I wonder sometimes, whether the owners should live there. I personally know some well to do people who owns low cost houses. They make money from rentals. I would like to share the issues here and offer some solutions that I think should be addressed.
Recently by stroke of luck (or unlucky!), I was tasked to lead a group of purchasers of an abandon housing project to discuss with the developer on the how to get the project to be completed. This project consists of 1800 purchasers which includes among others a large number of owners of low cost house in Ulu Klang. We had to start from scratch.
In the process of collecting database of owners, I had a few people who came to my house to send membership forms to join our association. I was surprised at the kind of people that I met. There was even one couple driving a BMW who came to my house and talk a smarting English and claims to be the owners of 2 units of low cost house. Upon checking their database with the developers, I find that it was true. I could only shake my head in disbelief. Apparently he was one of the squatters that are involved in a squatter relocation program somewhere in Jalan Ulu Klang. There were also some really poor people that I met which stays was currently staying in a rented low cost flats in the vicinity of Taman Dagang. I was moved by their state of affairs.
Change the name – Zero squatters program
Though the government name has a good intention but the project name is a kind of a misnomer. It is being exploited politically. The good intention is not being the focus of the program. It gives the impression that it is about making life difficult for squatters. It is sort of a pressure to get rid of them. This should not be the case and should be change.
Instead of focusing on the squatters and trying to “zerorized” them, the government should look at how to make affordable homes for people. The name needs to be change. The government need to hire marketing expert that can help to bring positive image to the whole program. Maybe it can call it Proper Home for Squatters… or something to that effect. I believe Puan Zuraida, the MP of Ampang (P99) with her corporate background in marketing and business development can give a suitable proposal.
Low cost house should be for the poor
The state government need to maintain this stand to take care of its people. Low cost house cannot be use as a trading tool. It cannot be use for the purpose of making money. My own gross analysis indicates that there is adequate low cost house to cover almost all squatters in the state. The problem is many of this houses are not own by poor people. They are own by politically connected people. Some were own by poor people at one time but now it is own by not so poor people.
In my view, the house cannot be sold to others. It can only be sold between the poor and the government and vice versa. There is a need to identify poor people. They must stay in the property that they own. If they rent it out, they lose their rights to it because it simply means that they don’t need it.
Once they have reach a certain economic stature and can afford better housing they have to sell the house back to the state at the maximum of the purchase prise from the state. If they don’t take care of their house while they own it they will get less than 100% of the value. This will ensure that the property will always be maintained in a good state.
How do we Identify the real poor people that is in the low cost flats
Obviously the basic information is data. There must be a database collection system. From this data we will know, which property are owner occupied and which are being rented out. From their IC Number, the car that they drive, the amount of property that is registered under their name we should be able to weed out those rich people who has been exploiting from the poor. Those units that has been identified as not owner-occupied or being owned by people that is not categorize as poor must be acquired by the state government at the original selling price. Laws must be enacted to this effect. Low cost house cannot be transferred from one party to the other. It can only be transferred from the state and to the people and back to the state. The state can then “recycle” these houses for the registered poor purchasers under the state database.
What are the benefits of this program?
There are several benefits to this program.
1) By changing the name, it will improve the image of the state government with the masses.
2) The number of low cost house can be actually be ascertained and this can be use as a quality of life indicator. Only those deserving people will stay in such houses.
3) The needs to further alienated state land to developers with the intention of building new house can be controlled. This will further improve the quality of life.
In closing, I ask the Selangor State (and Federal ) Government to review my proposal
[...] that was so “usual” under Khir Toyo’s reign). We can achieve “zero squatter policy” in many other ways too such [...]
For years i believe most of us would have heard stories of most of the real poor waited for years to get a low-cost house while some rich and well-connected people seemed to owned these property for rental income or resell at a higher price.
Whatever said and done, i support the idea of having a data base of all eligible applicants (successful or those in the waiting list) plus those owners staying-in and those rented out their unit and the authority concerned should publish them in their website for the public to view. I am sure with the IT age, there is no excuses.
I just wonder why and how come those who owned these low-cost housing would want to rent out their unit? Is it because after they got them they decided to stay with their relatives or is it they have more the one unit of low-cost housing? Can an eligible family owned two units of low-cost house at the same time?
I fully support the idea that there should be a mechanism where ownership transfer should be between these owners and the state. Here the state can sell or rent to other deserving families.
The Singapore HDB is a success story of providing basic housing to most Singaporean over the years despite their land limitation.
I am sure our government of the day can do the same here even if we have to go back to the drawing board.
To Dr. Rafick, i salute you! Your views and suggestions maybe basic to some but if implemented the desired result would be great for all
Dear Dr Rafick,
Thank you for bringing up this subject in particular on low cost housing and flat.
Besides mentioning the owner having cars which is more than the value of the unit, the car depreciate in value compare to the unit they own.
Drive around low cost area just views at the extentions and renovations made, it did not represent the deserving owners.
There are also many units which are simply left unoccupied overgrown with lallang and door/ window missing. These units should be turned over to deserving applicant.
It is also not surprising in squatter colony, some of the tennant regardless local and illegal immigrant are actually not owner of the house.
I support your proposal at the same time highlight above abuses and issues.
dahlan
i support u on ur views and opinion…well done dr!
Dear En Ali
I echo your views. I suppose if they have not delivered, then all the agreements that was written down is no longer valid. It can be terminated by the state and all the contra properties will be taken back.
The state then has to find another way to complete the project. In my assessment this is a simple issue. There is no need to contra property in the first place.
Those high value properties should not have been used as a direct nego pawns between the powers at be and the people that knows them.
If the property is really worth as much then they should be auction of to the highest bidder. Similarly those low cost houses (if you want to call that – to me it is pigeon holes) can be built by contractors on open tenders and the money raised earlier can be use to finance their construction. This is simple and clean. There would not have any issue at it.
Another legacy of the poor implementation policy of the previous state government.
Sincerity and honesty must prevail amongst all the parties viz the developers , squatters , PTG Gombak , MPAJ , the statutory authorities , end financiers providing housing loans and the new BR state government in order to resolve this social issue. But be wary of the squatters especially the leaders demands and do not succumb to promises that cannot be met.
First and foremost , the state government must take to task the developers who have been entrusted to construct and complete the low cost flats for the squatters resettlement in Sungai Sering , Ukay Bistari and Bukit Belacan. The projets if and when completed should be more than sufficient to relocate the squatters from Kpg Fajar , Bt Lapan , Kpg Tok Adam , Kpg Perak , Kpg Pasir and Kpg Pasir Tambahan.These projects have been delayed for more than a year and for whatever reasons they may be , priority must be focused to complete these projects ASAP.
In line with the policy of housing for the poor I would suggest that the state government buys over the low cost housing projects from the developers lock stock and barrel at the government controlled price to alleviate the issue of construction financing by the developers.The government will in turn sell these completed units to the squatters and the poor.In cases where the developers are not able to proceed like the one in Sg Sering then rescue package by others should be looked into with the aim of a win- win situation for all.
I repeat , sincerity and honesty must prevail amongst all parties.