Move ensures temporary accommodation for residents affected by disasters, says exco
SELANGOR is set to bolster its disaster resilience by establishing dedicated emergency units across all Smart Sewa Scheme housing projects.
State housing and culture committee chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah said a working paper was being finalised to integrate such units into the scheme’s infrastructure.
He said the initiative aimed to ensure residents displaced by floods or other emergencies would have immediate access to temporary accommodation within their own communities.
By embedding disaster preparedness into the housing framework, Borhan said the state sought to modernise the Smart Sewa Scheme and provide a swifter, more localised response to crises.
The Smart Sewa Scheme was established in 2016 by Selangor to help individuals rent before they proceed to afford a place of their own.
“In previous discussions, we (the state government) emphasised the importance of providing multiple units in each area for emergency use, including temporary assistance for flood victims or those requiring evacuation.
“This working paper will ensure that we are well-prepared in terms of allocation, logistics and maintenance so that these units can be used immediately when needed,” he said after a working visit to Flat Seri Perantau in Port Klang alongside Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) staff, as reported by Bernama.
Borhan also stressed the need to prepare working papers before approving any additional allocation, to ensure the provision of emergency units was carried out in an orderly manner and in compliance with standard procedures.
“We need to ensure that every unit offered under the scheme has the capacity to be used in emergencies, including for flood victims or temporary evacuation.
“This will give residents confidence that the state government is always ready and well- prepared for any eventuality.”
On the state government’s target of building 200,000 housing units under its affordable homes initiative, Borhan said some 80,000 units had been completed, while the rest were still under implementation.
He added that strict monitoring and control must continue, to ensure housing construction projects were completed on schedule, in line with the mission of providing affordable housing for the people.
Later, in a media statement on the power disruption at Flat Seri Perantau since Dec 7, Borhan said Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) had channelled up to RM2mil to cover repair and restoration costs of the electrical wiring system affecting 128 residential units in Block C.
The prolonged power outage, he said, had significantly affected residents’ daily lives, including mobility, due to non-functioning lifts, as well as disruptions to water supply caused by inoperative pumps.
As an initial step, he said the state government would coordinate the work, including the appointment of relevant contractors.
“The state government is also expediting the establishment of a joint management body (JMB) or management corporation (MC) to ensure the building is managed in a more organised and sustainable manner,” he added.
