Residents worry over ‘unstable’ longhouses

FAMILIES still living in the Rumah Hijau longhouses in Mak Mandin, Seberang Prai, are worrying over their safety as the vacant units are being demolished causing their longhouses to be unstable.

■The vacant units are being demolished

Bagan MCA division Youth chief David Chua said on Wednesday the structures are now unstable as contractors have moved in to demolish the units vacated by families who have moved to the replacement flats in Ampang Jajar, some 3km away from their squatter village.

“The contractor rightfully should only demolish the front and the back portion and leave the dividing wall of each unit but now these walls have been brought down causing the structures to be unstable as water is seeping in.

“I was informed by association chairman A. Tamil Selvam that when he spoke to State Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng, I was told that Lim had given the directive to tear down the units,” he said when contacted yesterday.

However, Chua said when the association representatives met State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, who is Sungai Puyu assemblyman, they were told that the contractor should not tear down the units.

“Why are the families given different versions of what is happening when their lives are in danger?” he questioned.

He added that the state was not serious in helping the families solve the problem as they were delaying inviting representatives from Barisan Nasional to discuss the fate of the remaining families at the longhouses.

“The association representatives who met state Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai just before Chinese New Year in February were told that the state would hold a meeting with Barisan representatives, the affected families and the association representatives.

“But it has since been a month now and there is no such invitation from the state. Why is there a delay if the state is serious in helping?” he asked.

When contacted, Wong said it was not true that the state did not want to meet the families.

“We have met them a couple of times and the state will meet with the affected families again on March 30,” he said.


Source from : The Star . North