More poor families in a fix over bills

BUTTERWORTH: Bagan Barisan Nasional coordinator David Chua had a shock when he learnt that more than 20 poor families were given one week to pay their rental arrears or face repossession of their flats.

“These people have been re-ceiving calls from State Housing Department to settle their rental arrears within a week or have their flats repossessed.

“Please do not be cruel to these poor people. Where will they go? Please show some mercy,” he said.

Chua, who is Bagan MCA Youth chief, again called upon the Pe-nang Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai to act on humanitarian grounds to help the poor.

He also asked about the whereabouts of the elected representatives who had not visited these helpless people.

“Why have they not visited this place even after their plight was highlighted in the media” he asked while visiting the flats at Taman Bagan Jaya here yesterday.

Also present were Sungai Puyu BN coordinator Sum Yoo Keong and Bagan Jermal BN coordinator Maggie Teh.

Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Boon Poh, however, came to the defence of the department, saying that it had the right to go after the tenants to pay up.

“For example, if you rent out a unit to a tenant, you would follow-up and ask for the rental if the tenant does not pay up,” said Phee, who is also a state executive councillor in George Town.

He said the state would come up with a solution on how the residents could pay their rents.

Meanwhile, Chua pledged to settle the outstanding water and electricity bills amounting to RM2,300 of five poor families.

Among them was single mother Sarinah Ariffin who shed tears of joy when she received the good news from Chua.

“I am so happy and thankful to Chua for his kind gesture. We have been using candles at night for nine months.

“My four children will be happy to know that we will get the electricity supply again,” she said.

Chua said he would also settle the outstanding water and electricity bills of the five families on Monday instead of giving them the money to avoid it being misused.