PETALING JAYA: Still reeling from the Putra Heights gas pipeline disaster, many displaced victims are encountering another crisis in securing rental homes.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic) said that while the Selangor state government has offered to finance rental of up to RM2,000 for each family for six months, victims are facing hurdles in securing a house due to steep and unaffordable security deposits that landlords are imposing.
The minister learnt of this after speaking to several victims at a relief centre at the Masjid Putra Heights during a visit past noon on Thursday.
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"A few of them had found properties to rent, but the property owners had imposed security deposits of two or three months. The victims are facing trying times, and the state government has stepped up to offer instant cash aid, but the house owners are going about as if it is business as usual. This has complicated the situation for the victims," he told reporters after speaking to several affected residents putting up at the relief centre.
Saifuddin said the victims also expressed their satisfaction and gratitude to the government over the services rendered by various agencies following the disaster.
He said 95 families comprising 361 members remain housed at the relief centre.
Saifuddin also commended mental health counsellors on duty at the centre for carrying out exemplary work in treating victims traumatised by the incident.
