UNEMPLOYED M. Ranee is the only flat owner still staying at Block H in Lorong Mahsuri 10, which has been declared unsafe. 

And from the looks of it, she may be spending Deepavali, which falls on Nov 1, at the flat. 

“I am hoping to move out from the flat before Deepavali. But I doubt I can move to a new house by then because I only went to the lawyer’s office recently to sign an agreement for alternative housing,” she said. 

Ranee and Sasi still live in the flat despite the block being declared unsafe.

Ranee’s neighbours moved out from the 60-flat block in Lorong Mahsuri 10 after it was declared un-safe by its developer Penang Deve-lopment Corporation (PDC) in Feb-ruary. 

PDC had advised the affected residents to move out by May 31, as the walk-up flats had tilted more than a degree and moved 25.4cm from its axis. 

Ranee, who is single and in her 40s, said she did not want to move out earlier because she was not satisfied with the amount of compensation offered. 

“I purchased the unit in 1992 at a cost of RM59,000. I spent another RM30,000 on renovation. PDC is only willing to compensate RM59,000 under the agreement I signed. I am hoping for RM20,000 more” she said, adding that her last neighbour moved out about two months ago. 

Ranee’s nephew Sasi, who recently sat for his PMR, is currently keeping her company. 

“My nephew is staying at my house to study. I am also teaching him,” she said, adding that she kept her house locked all the time. 

State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman P.K. Subbaiyah, who was surprised to find an occupant in the condemned building during a mosquito breeding ground inspection round, said he would help to resolve her problem. 

Mahsuri RT chairman Zulkifli Eusof said that Ranee refused to move because she was not satisfied with the amount of compensation offered to her. 

“All the other owners have moved out except her. I am worried for her safety. I hope she would leave soon,” he said.