3PAN to take over PPR soon

KOTA TINGGI: The National Public Housing Management Corporation (3PAN) will soon take over all projects under the People's Housing Projects (PPR).
Deputy Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique said the move was part of the government's initiative to improve the PPR's management.
She said it would be proper if the ministry itself carried out the responsibility of collecting rent and maintain these homes as the PPRs were constructed by 3PAN.
"Previously, state governments were given the tasks for rental collection and maintenance. However, there are several projects facing problems such as high rent arrears and poor maintenance.
"Such failures involve several state governments. Some PPRs are not much different than squatter areas," she told reporters after attending the Tenggara parliamentary constituency 'Mesra Merdeka Raya' 2016 event at Bukit Besar Felda Hall here yesterday.
Also present were Johor Tenggara Development Authority (Kejora) general manager Mohd Norazman Osman and Bukit Besar Felda village head Raya Rabu.
Halimah, who is also Tenggara state assemblyman, added the new management would also cover works on improving infrastructure to ensure the comfort of those who live in PPR areas.
She said among the projects which were not well-managed was PPR Lembah Subang Satu in Petaling Jaya, Selangor where tenants were renting out their units to third parties, especially foreigners, 10 times higher than the original rental rate between RM1,000 and RM1,200 per month.
"We will take stern actions to stop these irresponsible acts including to forfeit and cancel rental agreement with the original tenant.
"The units which were forfeited will then be transferred to other interested parties, provided that they must be Malaysians," she said. — Bernama