No tolerance with those who abuse PPR flats, DBKL warns

Kuala Lumpur City Hall will not tolerate with lessees of the People's Housing (PPR) and Public Housing (PA) project who rented out their houses to foreigners.

"We take back the houses," warned DBKL executive director of economic development, Datuk Mohd Sauffi Mohamad.

He said based on a survey conducted last year, 35 per cent (16,723) of the 46,454 units of PPR and PA houses were believed to have been rented out by the registered lessees, who were the original recipients of the housing units.

"Their action is not only against the law, but also hampers the government's efforts to help the needy," he added.

Mohd Sauffi said that as of March this year, DBKL had repossessed 150 PPR and PA housing units after the registered owners were found to have leased the houses to other people.

Last year, 490 units were seized and the names of the recipients were blacklisted, he added.

Mohd Sauffi said DBKL would continue to conduct checks at PPR and PA housing to ensure no breach of the lease agreement by recipients of the houses.

This Bernama reporter tagged along in one of the operation which was conducted by Mohd Sauffi, himself, last April 13.

The operation, which started at 11 pm and ended at 2.30 am the following day at PPR Intan Baiduri, Selayang, found four units not occupied by locals who were not the recipients of the houses and one by a foreigner.

This reporter approached the foreigner, who said he was renting the unit for RM300 a month since four months ago.

The foreigner, who works in a supermarket, is believed to be sharing the unit with at least three other people.

He was served a notice to vacate the premises immediately, while the occupants of the other four units were given a month to do so.