The federal government has urged Dengkil residents who are living in tents out of fear that their houses will collapse to lobby the Selangor government to alienate a suitable piece of land to build them replacement houses.
Minister of Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Abdul Rahman Dahlan (left) said the ministry could not otherwise proceed to build the replacement houses for them.
"To the affected residents of Taman Permata (in Dengkil), I seek your help in solving this problem. It is imperative that you cooperate with us by lobbying the Selangor government to offer suitable alternative land," Rahman said.
In a statement to Malaysiakini, the minister insisted that the Selangor government has not provided an official response on this front and as such the matter has been further delayed.
This is despite Selangor's claim that it is prepared to provide any land deemed suitable, as long as the federal government can provide an undertaking that it will build the replacement houses for the affected residents, free of charge.
The Selangor executive councillor overseeing the matter, V Ganabatirao, told Malaysiakini that the state secretariat hadwritten to the federal government last month, informing that Selangor was prepared to offer replacement land for the cracked houses.
This followed the federal government's rejection of a parcel of land offered by the state, which was deemed unsuitable for development.
This seemingly bureaucratic tussle between the state and federal governments is forcing the residents to spend their 57th night in tents tonight.
Realising the urgency of the matter, Rahman said: "We understand that we cannot afford to wait any longer. We are evaluating several alternatives to resolve this issue. Once this has become more concrete, we will inform the residents of these alternatives."
The prime minister is concerned
Minister of Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Abdul Rahman Dahlan (left) said the ministry could not otherwise proceed to build the replacement houses for them."To the affected residents of Taman Permata (in Dengkil), I seek your help in solving this problem. It is imperative that you cooperate with us by lobbying the Selangor government to offer suitable alternative land," Rahman said.
In a statement to Malaysiakini, the minister insisted that the Selangor government has not provided an official response on this front and as such the matter has been further delayed.
This is despite Selangor's claim that it is prepared to provide any land deemed suitable, as long as the federal government can provide an undertaking that it will build the replacement houses for the affected residents, free of charge.
The Selangor executive councillor overseeing the matter, V Ganabatirao, told Malaysiakini that the state secretariat hadwritten to the federal government last month, informing that Selangor was prepared to offer replacement land for the cracked houses.
This followed the federal government's rejection of a parcel of land offered by the state, which was deemed unsuitable for development.
This seemingly bureaucratic tussle between the state and federal governments is forcing the residents to spend their 57th night in tents tonight.
Realising the urgency of the matter, Rahman said: "We understand that we cannot afford to wait any longer. We are evaluating several alternatives to resolve this issue. Once this has become more concrete, we will inform the residents of these alternatives."
The prime minister is concerned
He added his ministry was also seeking expert advice on the integrity of the building structure and would inform residents on the outcome of the matter soon.
"We will also take the initiative to perform a clean-up of the area, as we are determined to improve the environment there.
"Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is indeed very concerned over this matter and is committed to seek a resolution as swiftly as possible," Rahman said, noting that the matter had been discussed in cabinet meetings.
Residents fled their homes on June 11 when they felt the building shake after a loud noise was heard. Cracks have also surfaced on the building walls.They said that rescue workers who attended to their distress call instructed everybody to evacuate the building and to stay away from it.
The residents also said the Malaysian Public Works Institute (Ikram) inspected the building but it could not give them a guarantee that it is safe to be inhabited.
About 20 families, including children and the elderly, are camping out near the flats, while the others have rented rooms in houses nearby.
All former plantation workers, they sold their low-cost flats and moved to Taman Permata 14 years ago, to make way for the construction of the federal administrative capital of Putrajaya.
"We will also take the initiative to perform a clean-up of the area, as we are determined to improve the environment there."Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is indeed very concerned over this matter and is committed to seek a resolution as swiftly as possible," Rahman said, noting that the matter had been discussed in cabinet meetings.
Residents fled their homes on June 11 when they felt the building shake after a loud noise was heard. Cracks have also surfaced on the building walls.They said that rescue workers who attended to their distress call instructed everybody to evacuate the building and to stay away from it.
The residents also said the Malaysian Public Works Institute (Ikram) inspected the building but it could not give them a guarantee that it is safe to be inhabited.
About 20 families, including children and the elderly, are camping out near the flats, while the others have rented rooms in houses nearby.
All former plantation workers, they sold their low-cost flats and moved to Taman Permata 14 years ago, to make way for the construction of the federal administrative capital of Putrajaya.
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