The Malaysian Insight

THE recent evictions of several Taman Manggis People’s Housing Programme (PPR) tenants has nothing to do with race, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He said the state government was simply doing its job in ensuring those who were no longer eligible to stay at PPR flats made way for those who needed to.

“It was administrative action taken in accordance with regulations. What we did at Taman Manggis was apply good governance.

“The Audit Department had previously taken Penang to task for not following standards and procedures in managing PPR units. We were questioned on why we had allowed this (ineligible tenants occupying PPR units) to happen.

“Although some quarters are playing up racial sentiments with the eviction issue, we will continue with our enforcement policy,” he said today.

Anti-Pakatan Harapan groups and individuals have in recent days used the eviction issue to slam the DAP-led state government, framing the problem as a Malay rights issue as a few evicted families camped outside the Komtar government offices to protest the eviction.

Chow said the playing up of racial sentiments was nothing new.

“Whatever the state does is always seen with slanted views and through racial lenses.”

Chow, however, said that the eviction process was “bitter” and efforts to convince people to relocate has been difficult.

“If there are other parties coming in to spread baseless information, residents may feel afraid and refuse to cooperate. We have to consider this in that context, too.”

Chow said with firm enforcement by housing authorities, seven of 22 units had been repossessed.

“Some of the tenants understood and accepted the decision, and were willing to return the units. We hope the others will realise we have to follow the policy.

“After all, the state has already given them homes at a rate they could afford for 10 years,” he said.

Assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, the elected rep of the area, said he had also explained the Taman Manggis situation to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s political secretary Abu Bakar Yahya, who was at Komtar yesterday.

“He said he understood the issue, and that we were doing things by the book. He said he would report it accordingly to the prime minister,” said Teh, who is also Chow’s political secretary.

Meanwhile, state exco Dr Afif Bahardin, who visited families camping out at Komtar, said they were now allowed to return to their units, which had been locked by the authorities on Wednesday.

He said following a discussion with housing exco Jagdeep Singh Deo, the tenants has been given three more days at their units from today.

Earlier, Dr Afif also defended the state’s decision to take action.

“Even DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Council) takes enforcement action like this.”

Earlier today, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin defended the eviction of several families from the flats, saying the government had to be firm on enforcement and uphold the rule of law. – March 8, 2019.