Raising the standard of high-rise living
The Star 2/11/2004

A vision for everyone to own homes in Selangor started a massive effort to get rid of squatter colonies and relocate squatters to proper housing schemes at the dawn of the new millennium. 

Housing schemes for the relocation of squatters began sprouting in all parts of Selangor where units were either sold or rented out. 

Council homes which are rented out were built by the Federal government on state land in places such as Lembah Subang I and II, Kota Damansara, Tasik Teratai in Serendah and PPR Kampung Baru Hicom. 

Selangor Housing and Real Property Board executive director Alinah Ahmad said all council homes would come under the board’s purview next year. 

“The state wants everyone to own a home but for those who cannot afford it, there are homes for rent. This is why we don’t see people living under bridges these days. 

“Newer housing schemes have better facilities such as children’s playground, surau and ample parking space compared with those built in the 1990s,” she said. 

Integrated programmes with the Women’s Affairs and National Integration committee and Youth and Sports committee are in the pipeline for community activities for the people. 

Some of the programmes planned for 2005 include the introduction of nurseries and kindergartens at low-cost housing areas as well as activities such as cooking and sewing classes and physical exercise programmes. 

At present, community programmes such as family day and sporting events have been organised at low-cost housing projects. 

Alinah said the state was confident of meeting its target for zero-squatter status by the end of 2005 as 52% of the squatter relocation projects had taken off. 

Meanwhile, to alleviate maintenance problems in public housing projects, Alinah said the Selangor Housing and Real Property Board had introduced the Pre-Manage-ment Corporation (pre-MC) scheme in April. 

“It is aimed at raising awareness among residents on the concept of shared responsibility,” she said. 

The scheme applies to properties which involve strata titles such as condominiums, apartments, town houses and low-cost houses. 

Alinah said most of the time buyers did not want to get involved with management matters. 

She said buyers usually failed to realise that living in high-rise buildings meant collective responsibility, making it necessary for buyers to get involved in management matters. 

To correct this perception, the board went on roadshows informing buyers the importance of getting involved in MC activities and on rules governing people living in high-rise buildings as per the Strata Title Act 1985. 

“We held seminars and talks, explaining to residents that even the roof and five-foot ways belong to them collectively although individual units might be theirs,” Alinah said. 

She said maintenance-related matters were not solely the property manager’s responsibility. 

“Residents should work closely with the property manager with the concept of shared responsibility in their minds,” Alinah said. 

Before the full formation of MC, pre-MC’s come into play with the developer, property manager and residents (buyers and tenants) forming a committee. 

The committee deals with maintenance issues and organises activities such as gotong-royong and festive celebrations. 

The board, formed in 2002 has visited 65 old low-cost housing schemes and 10 new projects mostly in Kajang and Ampang since April, Alinah said.