AFTER renting public housing units at Seri Perlis 2, Keramat Jaya for more than 40 years, residents are pleading to the new government to help them become home owners.

This is after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently raised the issue of old housing units in Kuala Lumpur in a meeting with City Hall.

A spokesman for the residents at Seri Perlis 2 told a press conference today that many families have been renting for 40 years but have yet to be given the right to own the housing units.

Norhasimah Daud said they were initially promised by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that they could own the unit if they were able to pay rent for 10 years but to date, no agreement was made by the government to allow them to purchase the houses.

“This was back in the 1970s when my father rented the house. Now I am renting it and my father is now a grandfather. The old government under Dr Mahathir at one time said if we stayed and paid rent for 10 years, we would be eligible to buy the house.

“But 40 years later, we are still renting,” she said.

Anwar last week raised the issue of old housing in the city, citing Seri Perlis 2.

He said the flats in Seri Perlis 2 are old and as a development plan, the residents should be given new homes and the flats be demolished.

At the same press conference, former federal territories minister Khalid Samad suggested for the prime minister to offer the residents home ownership.

He said that by granting them ownership, the residents would be eligible to receive compensation should Putrajaya agree to develop the area one day.

“As for now they are still renting. If the government wants to develop this area, they will get nothing as they don’t own the housing units.

“The PM should grant them ownership because they have been renting for 40 years. They will be eligible for compensation if this area is going to be developed,” said Khalid.

He added that representatives from Kampung Sungai Baru and Flat Seri Perlis 2 will be sending letters of appeal to the prime minister.

“We will write to the PM about this issue and will try to set a date to meet the PM,” he added. – December 26, 2022.