Families refuse to leave, confront enforcement team

GEORGE TOWN: Eight families who refused to move out of their homes in the Taman Manggis People’s Housing Project in Jalan Zainal Abidin got into a standoff with an enforcement team.

A group of them later marched a few kilometres to Komtar to stage a peaceful protest over the eviction.

Among them was resident Muhammad Kutnan Kadim, 51, who was arrested at his home by the police after he refused to vacate his home premises.

Kutnan and his wife, along with seven of their children, wailed and screamed as the housing department officials tried to lock up their home at level five of the PPR yesterday.

His wife, Nazrimah Jamal Abidin, 44, who is unemployed, claimed that more than 10 housing and police officers had tried to lock up her house and that her husband was manhandled and cuffed when he tried to stop them.

Why me?: Police officers arresting Kutnan after he refused to vacate his home.

“We already have no home.

“Now, I am left with seven of my children to fend for ourselves and six of them are still young.

“Now that they have arrested my husband, it makes things worse as he is our sole breadwinner,” she said.

It was earlier reported that the occupants of 22 government flats whose household income have exceeded the maximum were allowed a six-day reprieve to vacate their homes.

The deadline was yesterday.

They enjoyed a rental of just RM124 a month for years, but the state found out these families, comprising over 100 people, have moved up in life.

Another resident, Khalidah Nazir Ahmad, 63, said they tried to appeal but their application was rejected.

Other residents, some with children, were also told to vacate the premises. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

“This is unfair to us as we were given this unit when they offered a replacement for demolishing our home in Kampung Sungai Pinang at Balik Pulau back then.

“Now that we have stayed here for more than 12 years, they want to evict us,” she said, adding that they were not able to salvage any of their belongings before the eviction.

Persatuan Surplus Pulau Pinang president Sophian Mohd Zain said 12 low-cost flat units were vacated and padlocked yesterday, adding that eight families had resisted the evictions.

“Four families voluntarily handed over their house keys but the eight other families have no place to go.

“We hope that the state government can at least provide them with more time or find a solution,” he said, claiming that those evicted were forced to spend the night in their cars or in lobbies and mosques.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the people would be able to judge if the government had been right in taking action against these occupants, adding that the Housing Department was only following standard procedures.

“The condition was that they have to vacate the flats within five years, as by that time, the occupants should have increased their income and apply for other types of housing units.

“The PPR housing scheme is for the poor and they must adhere to certain conditions set by the department.

“Many of them have been staying there for a long time,” Chow told reporters at Komtar.

He added that appeals of genuine cases would be reconsidered.