City’s greatness defined by govt’s ability to safeguard residents’ interests - PM

"You cannot build a city that separates its people... I used to know individuals who took pride in Kuala Lumpur as it has Twin Towers (Petronas Twin Towers).

"But, what about tens of thousands (of people) without homes, living in crowded areas...how about buildings such as this (Seri Perlis building) which was constructed 50 years ago, with one room, one toilet and six children. We can't ignore these issues, these are the things we have to look into," he said when officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the Residensi Suria MADANI in Taman Desa here today.

Also present were the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will not pay attention to the opposition of the elite against the construction of affordable houses.

He said the people need to unite by taking the spirit of Merdeka so that the low-income groups are not marginalised.

"Every time there is a people housing project, there will be objections. My friends text (message) we have to take care of cleanliness, give comfort to friends who have high incomes, (but) then ... this is a cheap land site. Where do these poor people want to reside?

"Good areas (many) are already inhabited by the rich, so I want the people will unite behind the spirit of Merdeka. Let's not be marginalised in this one," he said when officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the Suria MADANI Residence at Taman Desa here today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and Chief Secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar were also present.

In the meantime, Anwar also instructed the Federal Territories Department and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to speed up all MADANI housing block matters for every new project in the capital to ensure that low-income groups have homes as soon as possible.

He said this is because some of those who are B40 and M40 have waited up to 10 to 20 years to own an affordable dream home.

"If you delay the approval, the cost of the house will be higher... corruption, bank costs all end up burdening the buyer, if this is the case the country will not progress as the people are not protected.

"... Thank God all the signs are good for Malaysia, good (economic) growth has started, good investment, low inflation, the work quantity and salaries of civil servants have also increased," he said.

A total of 800 Residensi MADANI units will be built by Mah Sing Group Bhd (Mah Sing) on a 0.99 hectare land involving the construction of two blocks with an area of 800 square feet per unit which will be sold at a price of RM200,000.

-- BERNAMA