Four out of the seven families who were evicted from their public housing units in Padang Tembak, Penang recently are no longer homeless as they have been offered alternative housing after a meeting with Penang executive councillor for housing, Jagdeep Singh Deo.
PSM central committee member Karthiges Rajamanickam, who led their group protest outside Komtar this week, said the meeting was held today between Jagdeep, the evictees and civil society activists Prema Devaraj (Aliran), Francis Loh (Aliran), Toh Kin Woon (Bersih Penang) and Henry Loh (Penang Forum).
"The four families were offered terrace houses in Batu Kawan with a rental fee of RM170 per month," Karthiges said.
"Their overdue rental has been settled and the handing over of their house keys will be fast-tracked before the Hari Raya celebrations which fall next week," he added.
"Another of the affected persons is also no longer homeless as he is a senior citizen and has been allowed to remain in his home," Karthiges said.
He deemed the outcome of the meeting "a victory" for the evictees' struggle" and thanked all those who have helped the group.
The families were evicted from their homes earlier this week for not fulfilling the criteria to qualify for public housing.
To qualify to stay on in a public housing unit in Penang, one has to be Malaysian with a Malaysian spouse, be from the low-income group and been paying the monthly rentals promptly.
On June 5, two activists including Karthiges were detained by the police for obstructing the eviction exercise. They were released later at night.
The group held another protest at Komtar the next day with their bedding as they had nowhere to go that night.
Jagdeep had clarified that there was a long list of applicants for public housing and the Penang Housing Department would evict those who violate the rental regulations. - Mkini
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