JOHOR BARU: The Johor Ruler has expressed his disappointment at the poor level of maintenance and cleanliness at low-cost flats in the state.
Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar said many of these dwellings were in bad condition and filthy, with rubbish strewn all over.
“Some of them have also become a breeding ground for pests and deadly insects. I am saddened by this situation and it looks like the rakyat are living in chicken pens,” he said.
Sultan Ibrahim said he hopes the Federal Government will provide allocations to restore old flats and for residents to be responsible in maintaining cleanliness.
His Majesty also expressed his unhappiness at the services provided by concessionaire SWM Environment Sdn Bhd.
“The state government is forced to pay up to RM180mil each year to SWM but its cleanliness services and garbage collection are not satisfactory,” he said.
The agreement with SWM is “watertight” and cannot be questioned, he added.
“Although there has been a lot of complaints about its poor services, the situation remains,” he said.
Earlier, Sultan Ibrahim received Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, who paid a courtesy visit at Istana Bukit Serene along with his deputy Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
The Ruler urged the ministry to look into the issues that he raised for the benefit of the people.
