ANYONE found committing repeated acts of vandalism can be evicted from the People’s Housing Project (PPR) under new guidelines by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
Sungai Pinang assemblymember Lim Siew Khim said the MBPP would give the culprits two warnings before serving them with an eviction notice.
“We don’t like to take this action but what to do,” Lim said after presenting “angpow” to the senior citizens of Jalan Sungai PPR in Sungai Pinang on Feb 19.
She said the move is implemented for the sake of hundreds or thousands of residents as more CCTVs are installed to nab the few vandals, especially to protect lifts and other facilities from being damaged.
Also present were Jalan Sungai Phor Thor Committee secretary Teong Ah Pin and treasurer Ong Lye Chuan and MBPP councillor Shahrudin Mohamed Shariff, who helped to distribute mandarin oranges.
According to Shahrudin, other residents of PPR projects under MBPP like in Taman Free School, Jalan Jetty, Kampung Kolam and Batu Uban had also been informed of MBPP’s new guidelines.
In her speech, Lim praised Jalan Sungai PPR residents for upkeeping the cleanliness of their low-cost flats.
“I dare say Jalan Sungai PPR is the most beautiful and cleanest PPR project in Penang,” said Lim.
“There is room for improvement. Jalan Sungai PPR is even better than some costlier housing projects. It had been used by former MBPP mayor Datuk Maimunah (Mohd Sharif) as a model under the Gender Responsive Participatory Budgeting (GRPB) concept in its transformation.”
Lim and Shahrudin attributed the success of Jalan Sungai PPR to the participation of the residents in having their own choice of cleaners and security guards instead of outsourcing them.
Shahrudin said the installation of CCTVs has seen a reduction of 80 to 90% of rubbish thrown indiscriminately in the flats’ area.
The 22-storey Jalan Sungai PPR has 525 units with about 3,000 residents.
Under a RM1 million modernisation programme, two of its five lifts had been replaced and the remaining three by May this year.
To help residents there acquire skills, Lim said a free bakery course was organised at the flats for 20 participants recently.
Besides that, free tuition for primary students on four subjects – English, Bahasa Malaysia, Science and Mathematics – is provided.
On the “angpow” presentation to the seniors, Lim said it was a tradition to respect and remember the older folks.
“Sometimes we may not be so rich but we can be happier than the rich. We have to be grateful each day even for being able to breathe.
I too was not born into a rich family but we can strive (to improve our standard of living).”