Klang MP moots fund to avert looming homeless crisis

Reports by RAHIMY RAHIM, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, MARTIN CARVALHO and TARRENCE TAN

A RENTAL Relief Fund should be set up by the government to avert a homeless crisis, said Klang MP Charles Santiago.

He said such a fund was crucial because there were already cases of families being evicted after losing their income and jobs during the movement control order (MCO) period.

“There was even a case of a family of four, including a pregnant mother, being forced to sleep in their car at the free parking area outside Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang recently after they were evicted,” he said at the sidelines of the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Describing the situation as the tip of the iceberg, Santiago noted the full effects of Covid-19 would be felt towards the end of the year.

While acknowledging the government’s effort to waive off rent for six months, he pointed out this only applied to government-owned flats and properties or those under local authorities.

He added that the Rental Relief Fund should also cover small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which had lost some RM14.31bil in six weeks during the MCO period.

He noted the SME Association of Malaysia reported that about 30% of SMEs were expected to close down next year.

He said the Rental Relief Fund should include suspension from eviction and rent freeze until March next year.

Santiago also suggested an extension of the moratorium till March next year on housing loans for landlords who provide rental waivers to tenants.

He said he would propose the setting up of the Rental Relief Fund during debates on the Temporary Measures For Government Financing (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Covid-19 Bill 2020.