KOTA KINABALU: People's Housing Project (PPR) tenants who have been renting for more than 10 years have to re-apply to qualify living in such schemes, says Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam.
Defending the move by Sabah Housing and Urban Development Board (LPPB) to issue notices to tenants living more than 10 years at such houses to seek new homes, he said that it was to give a chance to others to rent houses at a low price.
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"This decision or policy has been in place for many years. The idea was that those eligible are given time (10 years) to get their own house and let other people have a chance to rent at a low price," said Dr Gunsalam, who is Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister.
"After 10 years of renting the place, they (tenants) have to prove and reapply to be eligible," he said when asked on calls for the state government reconsider its decision to evict such tenants as many were under the B40 group.
Dr Gunsalam said that the state would need to review each case and if they could qualify to remain tenants.
In a June 18 notice by LPPB, the state housing developer said that they received a "reprimand" by the National Audit Department for not following the procedures for tenants to vacate the low-cost rental units after 10 years.
Putatan Umno chief Jeffrey Noor Mohmed called on the state to reconsider the decision to evict the tenants as many of those affected belong to the B40 group and continued to struggle financially.
On Wednesday (June 21) night, LPPB chairman Datuk Masiung Banah, who went live on Facebook, defended the move saying that his officers were following the policy when they issued the notice to such tenants.
"It is a policy and we have to follow the rules," he said.
Among the PPR housing rental schemes Masiung mentioned were Taman Jayadiri and Taman Bukit Setia in Kuala Manggatal as well as Taman Puri Puri Warisan where some tenants have been residing for more than 10 years.
"Our officers have told them to leave voluntarily in line with the policy. Our officers are just following the policy," he said.
Under the previous Warisan-Pakatan Harapan (2018-2022) state government, the then federal government (Housing and Local Government Ministry) had agreed to change the status of some of the low-cost rental housing to allow tenants to buy it under the rent-to-buy scheme.
However, the current Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GR) government decided to maintain the low-cost housing rental scheme to allow other deserving people to have an opportunity to rent such low cost houses at affordable rates.
