TAIPING: Grandmother M. Walliyamah thought she would be living in her dream home at Taman Bestari in Kamunting here when she used all her Employees Provident Fund money to pay RM10,000 for the low-cost house. 

The 70-year-old Walliyamah, who used to be a factory worker, also pawned her jewellery to pay additional expenses like legal fees. 

But 18 years later, Walliyamah is still unable to reside in the RM25,000 house which is now ready after its development had been abandoned. 

Walliyamah trying to hold back her tears while Kartigesu looks on during an interview after the key-handover ceremony at Taman Bestari in Taiping Saturday.

Yesterday, when met at a ceremony to hand over keys to the houses of the revived project, Walliyamah could only look on with teary eyes. 

Walliyamah, who is now partially blind and due for a heart surgery in August, said she was not given the house key because she had not settled the outstanding balance of her house loan. 

“I stopped payment because the project was abandoned and we are renting a house and we have to pay for other expenses,” said Walliyamah who was accompanied by her son G. Kartigesu. 

“I am worried that I may die even before I can move into the house,” she added. 

The last straw was when project developer Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) demanded a payment of RM924 – money that Kartigesu, who works in a snooker centre, said his family did not have. 

The RM924 was for maintenance, quit rent from 1999 to 2003, and deposit for water and electricity.  

“We have been staying in rented homes all our lives,” said Kartigesu, who stays with Walliyamah and his ailing father T. Govindarajoo, 80, at Kampung Aman in Pokok Assam here. 

Kartigesu said his mother took a bank loan which amounted to almost RM15,000 plus interest. 

“Including the RM10,000 deposit, we have already paid more than RM20,000,” he added. 

Later at a press conference, SPNB general manager (project rehabilitation) Ahmad Azizi Ali said 182 units of the scheme were ready for occupancy but only 70 buyers could get the house keys because of problems with the bank. 

“We will try to help the buyers who have problems with the bank,” he said after witnessing the key-handover ceremony by state executive council member Datuk Zaim Abu Hassan.  

Taiping MP Datuk M. Kayveas, who was also present, said he had suggested that interest imposed on outstanding loans of buyers of abandoned housing project be waived. 

“If the interest increased to RM40,000, it will defeat the purpose of providing homes for the poor and bankers should be more responsible by waiving such interest payment,” he added.