Selangor urging exco members to move into Section 7 bungalows

a swimming located in the central area of the vilage offers a magnificient view from the top.

IN A surprising turnabout, Selangor state executive councillors have been encouraged to move into the bungalows in the controversial exco village in Section 7, Shah Alam.

The state government had previously stated that it intended to sell the houses in the deserted site, and had tried over the past several years towards that end.

However, in the latest development, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has informed the executive councillors that they can move into the bungalows, on the condition that those who take up the offer will have to give up their monthly housing allowance.

Each executive councillor receives RM1,000 every month as housing allowance.

The controversial exco village, built at a cost of RM21mil, has been unoccupied since March 2008.

A state government source said Khalid’s main concern was the high cost incurred to maintain the vacant properties.

“Khalid is trying to reduce the cost by encouraging exco members to move in,” he told StarMetro in an interview.

So far only one of the 10 executive councillors has agreed to move into the exco village.

It is learnt that Islamic affairs, agriculture modernisation and rural development committee chairman Sallehen Mukhyi will occupy one of the bungalows to avoid long distance travelling as he is from Sabak.

The state government has terminated the services of the previous maintenance contractor.

Currently, four security guards are under permanent employment by the state. Gardeners are hired on a part-time basis to maintain the landscape.

The source said the Selangor government had made numerous efforts to revive the village and rid it of its ghost town image.

In 2008, he said the state had attempted to make a wholesale disposal of the village but failed due to the high price of land.

“There were also attempts to turn it into a medical institution but this also failed as the area and the units were too small,” he said, adding that plans for an international school did not materialise.

Last year, he said the bungalows were offered for rent to NGOs and other organisations to use for their activities.

However, he said the income was insufficient to cover the maintenance of the village.

The majority of the executive councillors are not in favour of moving into the village.

The exclusive village, with 10 units of two-and half-storey bungalows, a clubhouse, multipurpose area and a swimming pool has been a subject of controversy since 2004.

StarMetro, in a story on Nov 13, 2006, titled “Like a ghost town” had reported that only four of the 10 executive councillors were staying in the village while three others were occupied by their relatives.

It had also reported that some of the councillors were using the premises as guest houses.