NEARLY 70% of teachers’ quarters in Perak are lying vacant, largely due to poor and unconducive living conditions.
Perak education, higher education, youth and sports committee chairman Datuk Khairudin Abu Hanipah said about 2,462 units remained vacant while only 1,085 of the total 3,547 units were inhabited.
“Many teachers do not want to stay in less-conducive premises, while some have their own homes.
“Other factors may be due to cheaper rental outside, as well as locations being far, not strategic and unsafe,” he said in reply to Rahim Ismail (PN-Changkat Jering) at the Perak state assembly sitting in Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan, Ipoh, yesterday.
Khairudin said upkeep or maintenance of these quarters were expensive and could cost millions of ringgit.
He said the state along with the Education Ministry had looked into possible ways to fill these quarters, with the latter allowing units to be rented out to non-governmental organisations or private companies.
“The state and its Housing and Property Board visited several locations in Kinta to lease these units for rent under the Perak Sejahtera Rental Scheme (SPSS) on May 20, 2024,” he said.
“The state together with Perak Education Department are open to suggestions on optimising usage of the quarters for the people,” he added.
To a supplementary question from Salina Samsudin (BN-Behrang) on the state’s long-term plan to build more teachers’ quarters, especially in rural areas, Khairudin said the state government was attentive to local needs.
He said existing premises would also be maintained in phases based on urgency.
Replying to another question from Mohd Hafez Sabri (PN-Manjoi) regarding faulty wiring at the Kampung Jelapang Jaya quarters, Khairudin said he would instruct the district Education Department office to inspect the premises.
“We will then forward the issue to the Education Ministry so that allocations can be obtained to fix it,” he said.
