Old flats may be redeveloped, says housing minister

More than 222 residents of Taman Keramat Permai flats in Kuala Lumpur were evacuated after cracks appeared and the building tilted. (Facebook pic)

PUTRAJAYA: The housing and local government ministry will have discussions with state governments on redeveloping flats and other housing which are more than 30 years old.

The minister, Zuraida Kamaruddin, said such a requirement, to check or redevelop old housing, was included in the national housing policy.

Last week, 222 residents from 40 units of Block F at Taman Keramat Permai flats in Kuala Lumpur were evacuated after cracks were discovered in the structure of the building. These became worse when the block tilted to one side.

Zuraida said these apartments were the responsibility of the Selangor state government. “I will visit the location tomorrow as I have just returned from China today,” she said while at a convention on empowerment of Kampung and New Village Community Management Councils.

he convention was the first to be held and was attended by heads and secretaries of 800 kampung committees and new villages throughout the country. - FMT