‘Give us houses as promised’

In a petition to Selangor MB, the buyers of the stalled Block E low-cost housing project say they want their homes to be built on the gazetted site.

PETALING JAYA: The majority of house buyers of the stalled Block E low-cost housing project want their homes to be built as promised on the gazetted site opposite the longhouses.

In a petition sent to Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim on Jan 11, the buyers also urged the state government to negotiate with the bank to waive outstanding interests on late payments.

“And we want the interests paid over the years for the stalled project to be refunded to the buyers,” said Block E residents action committee chairman M Sugumaran.

Among others who received the petition were Selangor exco for housing Iskandar Abdul Samad, Selangor Housing and Real Estate Board, Taman Medan state asssemblyperson Haniza Talha and Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sean.

The 276 buyers of the Block E housing project were left in a lurch when the developer, Peter Brickworks Sdn Bhd, reneged on its agreement made in 2003.

The residents had paid deposit for the units and some were still paying instalments although the project had stalled for nine years.

Some of the residents are now living in Lembah Subang and other places, while about 40 families are living in longhouses erected by the developer at PJS 1 .

When threatened with eviction last year, Khalid stepped in and promised the residents that the state itself would build their homes.

‘Do we have to pay two loans?’
Among other demands made in the petition were:

• financing facility for the disabled buyers and those who failed to get housing loans in 2003.

• make an offer to the former squatter settlers at PJS 1 who failed to qualify for the housing in 2003.

• costs for a new sales and purchase agreement, legal fees and others to be borne by the state government.

• rental refund for all Block E residents living in Lembah Subang, as they are not supposed to pay rent in the first place as promised by Petaling Jaya City Hall (MBPJ) in 2003.

• demand for the liquidated and ascertained damages monies from the developer and MBPJ for failing to build their houses on time.

Sugumaran said he received a reply from Selangor Housing and Real Estate Board chief executive officer Alinah Ahmad on Jan 20, but claimed that the reply was less than satisfactory.

“Alinah said the interests waiver would depend on the bank’s discretion. So if the bank does not waive our interests and we take up loan for a new housing, do we have to pay for both?” he asked.

He added that on June 16 last year, Iskandar had promised the residents that the state government would price the affordable housing units at a low-cost value.

“But now they are offering it at RM99,000. We feel cheated,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sugumaran lamented that Peter Brickworks went unpunished for its defiance as it was continuing to build its apartment project nearby without any hurdles.

“So the previous stop-work order was just a drama by the state government to save face. While they continue doing their business, we are still left homeless,” he said.

MPBJ had issued a stop-work order against the apartment project in May last year against Peter Brickworks for demolishing two longhouses at PJS 1, against the state government’s advice to negotiate the matter with the residents.

However, the order was lifted a month later. No details were given on why the order was lifted.