Ops launched to find owners of abandoned units at Ipoh low-cost flats

AN "operation" has been launched to locate the owners of about 150 abandoned units at the First Garden low-cost flats in Ipoh.

Jelapang assemblyman Cheah Pou Hian said the operation was to find the owners and to get their views on what they want to do with their properties.

Cheah said some of the abandoned units had been intruded and were being inhabited by drug users and other dubious characters.

"I have been getting complaints from some of the residents there and also from the surrounding area about some of the questionable characters there since 2018.

"The residents do not feel safe and they have asked for my assistance to improve the living conditions there," he said in a press conference on Wednesday (Sept 13).

He said there were 280 units at the four-block flats.

"About 80 units are rented out, 45 unit owners are still staying there and 17 units are inhabited by illegal tenants.

"We want the owners who have abandoned their units and also anyone with information about those who have left, to contact me or come forward to my service centre.

"I will also try to check with banks or the Local Government Department to locate the owners," he added.

Cheah said the flats used to be a good and nice place to stay.

"I want to see the place transformed and changed for the better again.

"I have already helped to conduct a massive gotong-royong to clean up all the abandoned units," he said.