Johor MB: Flat dwellers must change their mindset

Shahrir operating an excavator at the ground breaking of the bridge and construction of road at Kampung Hajjah Hasnah EDL in Johor Baru.

JOHOR BARU: Former squatters in Johor Baru who have been relocated to flats here are advised to adapt to the new environment.

Johor Baru MP Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said they should have a better sense of ownership and not misuse common facilities provided in the public flats.

“They have to change their mindset and leave behind any negative habits they had when they were squatters,” said Shahrir.

He was speaking to reporters at the launch of the Johor Baru Parliament Jauhar Prihatin scheme and the ground breaking ceremony of Sekolah Agama Kerajaan Johor Kampung Bakar Batu under Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd.

At the event, Shahrir also performed the ground breaking ceremony of a bridge over Sungai Tebrau and construction of new road costing RM2.1mil by Johor Baru City Council.

He said flat dwellers at Kampung Hajjah Hasnah EDL should count themselves lucky as they were relocated to the flat after many years living in squatter areas here.

“You now have a proper place to call home, teach your children and grandchildren the importance of cleanliness and how to maintain the neighbourhood,” added Shahrir.

He said the death of 15-year old S. Sathiswaran, who was killed by a falling chair from a block of flats, should be a wake up call for all public flat residents.

Sathiswaran, a Form Three student of SMK La Salle in Petaling Jaya – was hit by an office chair believed to have been thrown from one of the upper floors of the Seri Pantai People’s Housing Project flats in Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm on Jan 15.

He was accompanying his 45-year-old mother S. Kasthurivai who had just finished grocery shopping.

The case was initially investigated under Section 304a of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence, but has now been classified as murder.