PARTI Sosialis Malaysia says that settling the Taman Permata housing issue is a major win in the party's fight for proper housing for former estate workers.
PSM deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan said credit should be given where it was due and advised political party members to get their facts right.
"A total of 393 families from four estates (in Dengkil), namely Prang Besar, Sedgeley, Galloway and Madingley were offered to purchase and relocate to a unit in Taman Permata flats for RM20,000 in 1999, to give way to the development of Putrajaya, although they were initially promised to be compensated with low-cost terrace houses.
"The building was found to have many defects. It was PSM who helped the residents to demand for the terrace houses promised.
"In 2013, a big crack appeared on one of the blocks and the building was deemed unsafe for dwelling.
"We drafted many letters to the state and Federal governments, as well as took part in many protests that garnered much attention," he said at a press conference in Taman Permata on Friday (Aug 4).
He said the Federal Government that was under Barisan Nasional then had offered to build houses and the state government under Pakatan Harapan offered to provide the land for the project.
He said the project, called Ampar Tenang People's Housing Project, was launched in 2017 and was now nearing completion.
"The houses are expected to be completed in October. Barisan and Pakatan had a hand in the project, but it was PSM and its movement that helped bring the matter to their attention and demand action," he said.
Arutchelvan said many have the misconception that PSM is a non-governmental organisation that helps to fight for people's rights.
"We nominated a candidate in Dengkil and they are surprised to know that we are a political party.
"PSM members do a lot of groundwork but are very bad at marketing ourselves," he said.
