SABAH POLLS | Residents of the Taman Mesra People's Housing Project (PPR) in N55 Elopura are still holding on to promises for them to eventually own a unit in the 57 block building.
Being among the earliest residents to move into the building 17 years ago, stall owner Reza said the previous Warisan-led administration had repeated a promise that residents could eventually be homeowners through a rent-to-own scheme.
"We just want the promise to be fulfilled. This rent-to-own is a promise since 2006.
"That was during BN's time, followed by Pakatan Harapan, but until now, nothing," said the 36-year-old.
Reza also lamented that things had worsened in the last 22-months, with the privatisation of maintenance and utility services.
"Nowadays the water bill for one house can go up to RM50, RM70, RM100... is there a swimming pool in each of the houses?" he said.
Fellow Taman Mesra resident Mahadir Tamkin echoed Reza's concerns as he claimed the "privatised system" posed an additional burden for some 1,000 low-income families.
"It was better under the previous BN administration; there is some tolerance for us.
"Even though we couldn't afford to pay for two or three months, we would not receive any warning," he said.
"Now, if we didn't make payments for two months, they will cut our water supply.
"Please help us, represent the poor people. Give us rent-to-own," he said.
Mahadir, who used to work in Johor, said he wished to see the rent-to-own system already introduced in Peninsular Malaysia to be adopted in Sabah.
"Don't just promise, don't just talk, we can also do that," he added.
The promise to PPR Taman Mesra and other low-cost housing project residents in Sabah had been made in the last two campaign trails - the 14th general election in 2018 and the Sandakan by-elections last year.
In April 2018, then chief minister Musa Aman (photo) reportedly announced that all PPR residents in Sabah would be offered a rent-to-own scheme.
The Daily Express at the time quoted Musa as saying that an application for all PPR residents in Sabah to be offered a rent-to-own scheme had been submitted to then prime minister Najib Razak and then Housing and Local Government minister Noh Omar, with a positive response.
"I was then told by the state-secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman that the application had been approved," Musa was quoted as saying.
About a year later, interim chief minister Shafie Apdal again made the promise to Sandakan voters but reportedly said his state administration needed to apply to the Housing and Local Government ministry under minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to convert existing projects into rent-to-own schemes.
When met by Malaysiakini, incumbent Elopura assemblyperson Calvin Chong claimed discussions were ongoing between Sabah state housing ministry under Warisan and Zuraida, up until earlier this year which saw a change in both federal and Sabah state governments.
"Until today there have been no results," claimed Chong when met on his campaign trail at the recent weekly night market in Elopura.
He also admitted Warisan in its election manifesto had promised to assist low-income voters in becoming homeowners, adding that it required federal approval to release management of PPRs to the state administration.
After coming into power, Chong said Sabah's Housing and Town Development Board had also identified a site to build 500 units of rent-to-own low-cost homes in Elopura, but construction was stalled due to the Covid-19 outbreak and change in state government.
"We will not wash our hands (of the problem). What we have promised we will follow through," he insisted.
Chong is up against six other contenders from BN, LDP, Usno, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS) and an Independent.
LDP's Elopura candidate Omar Chong (photo) said issues of poor maintenance was also left unaddressed under the privatised PPR management system, on top of demands for the rent-to-own scheme.
"To rent for their whole life will not benefit the people... What we want is to benefit the people.
"For a start, if I am elected, I will look into this matter in detail, find a win-win situation," Omar told Malaysiakini.
The Elopura candidates had crossed paths during their walkabout at the night market on Saturday and another two contenders - Usno's Siti Khairiah Sheikh Mohammad and PPRS' Mohamad Saini Ahmad Tang - also shared their own promises for the PPR residents.
Siti Khairiah (photo) told Malaysiakini she is the first Muslim woman to contest the Elopura seat. She has personal experiences growing up in PPR Taman Mesra after a fire burnt down a squatter settlement that used to be her family home.
"I was a DAP supporter before this, and we had raised the same issue, rent-to-own in Taman Mesra.
"Untuk today it has not been done," said the 45-year-old who is part Arab-Suluk on her father's side and Chinese-Iban on her mother's side.
"How long do we need to keep on renting?
"Our income level here has also not increased, so how are we to own homes?" she asked.
If elected, Khairiah said she would attempt to pursue any stalled negotiations or push for construction of other rent-to-own low-cost housing projects.
While Khairiah had attempted to explain her vision for the area, PPRS' Mohamad Saini (photo) said voters should just trust that he knows what's best.
"What to do, I don't need to be taught. I know what I need to do. The best choice is me.
"Vote for me. It's like you're swallowing a pill to cure all your ailments. I am sent by God to answer all your calls!" Mohamad Saini claimed.
Elopura is one of two state seats under Sandakan parliament, the other being N56 Tanjong Papat, held by DAP's Frankie Poon.
Campaigning began on Sept 12 and polling day is on Sept 26. A total of 73 seats are up for grabs. - Mkini
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