KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has been urged to publish the results of a coring test carried out on the 50-year-old Tanjung Aru low-cost flats here, which are at the centre of an eviction exercise.
Tanjung Aru assemblyman Datuk Junz Wong said the residents of the flats - popularly known as Rumah Pangsa Tanjung Aru - would be willing to vacate their homes by July if they receive substantial proof that the buildings were no longer safe for occupation.
Wong added that the residents, many of whom had been staying there for decades, would also have peace of mind to leave with a guarantee of new housing from the government.
"If it's true that the flats are unsafe for habitation, the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority should provide accommodation and not arbitrarily evict the residents without further discussion," he said on Thursday (March 9).
He said the state Local Government and Housing Minister informed the legislative assembly sitting that the residents would get new accommodation if necessary.
"Residents who are still living in the flats have never said they are willing to leave without the development authority providing a (new) place to live," he said.
On Feb 20, some 300 residents of the flats were surprised by an announcement that they had "agreed" to vacate the premises by July.
The residents highlighted their anxiety, confusion and anger over the development authority's sudden and unilateral move to evict them on the grounds that the 330 units in 11 blocks were allegedly unsafe.
The residents said the Feb 14 announcement by authority chairman Datuk Masiung Banah caught them off guard as there had been no consultation with the residents at all.
Masiung was quoted by a local daily as saying that a consultant appointed following an agreement between the residents and the authority had said the buildings were unsafe.
The consultant, he added, had recommended demolition as repairing the blocks would cost about RM20mil, which the authority could not afford.
A spokesman for the residents said there was no official eviction notice or discussions with the authority about leaving the units by the end of July.
During a meeting with the authority on July 5 last year, the residents were told that according to an engineering firm, the main structure of the building was good but there was a need to refurbish the units.
However, the spokesman said, the authority explained it did not have the funds to rehabilitate the building but offered to provide them with alternative low-cost housing.
Out of the 330 units involved, the spokesman added, 249 units were still occupied as the alternative housing has yet to be provided.
Towards this end, Wong said the flat’s committee was still waiting for the next engagement session with the government over the eviction.
"I hope that the government will be more cautious and humane.
"Many of the residents cannot afford to leave their homes. I hope the authorities will provide them with appropriate accommodation," he said.
