Unsafe flats finally being pulled down

Demolition work is ongoing at the Mutiara Rini flats in Bandar Jelutong, Penang, after it was declared unsafe. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

THE PENANG government will ensure that only affordable housing units are built on the grounds of a demolished flats in Bandar Jelutong, George Town.

State housing, town, country and local government committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the Mutiara Ria low-cost flats, on which work had only reached two storeys, was demolished after it was found to be unsafe.

“Another building Mutiara Rini, which is beside Mutiara Ria, is being demolished and we expect it to be done by January 2021, ” said Jagdeep when contacted.

He said once Mutiara Rini is demolished, the state would meet the developer JKP Sdn Bhd to work out a solution on a new affordable housing project on the same site.

The flattened area is where Mutiara Ria low-cost flats once stood. The Mutiara Rini medium-cost flats next to it is now being torn down in George Town.

“They have agreed in principle to build affordable housing units and it will be discussed once the demolition work is completed on Mutiara Rini, ” he said.

A check showed only rubble and stones are left at the Mutiara Ria project site since demolition work started three months ago.

Meanwhile, demolition work is ongoing at the Mutiara Rini project. Construction of this flat with 382 Class C medium-cost units measuring 900sq ft each had reached only 15 storeys.

Both the buildings were first found unsafe in 2017 and JKP decided to demolish them.

An aerial view of the flats being demolished along Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

The gross domestic value for both projects is RM120mil.

The projects were approved in May 2006 as continuation of the Kampung Pisang Awak Phase I project to resolve squatter issues.

The 22,509sq m land for the development belonged to the State Secretary Incorporated (SSI).

JKP Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir said he is still awaiting a report on the matter and would only be able to give details at a later date.