AMPANG JAYA: Some 1,000 squatter families in Kampung Berembang here may
not be able to move into low-cost units at their former settlement as
promised to them earlier.
Instead, they may be relocated to other units if the Ampang Jaya
Municipal Council failed to convince the State Government to reverse its
decision not to allow high-rise buildings to be built in Kampung
Berembang.
MPAJ president Ahmad Shafii Saidin said it was decided during the
Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) meeting that the high-rise
projects for low-cost houses should be shelved as the soil is not
suitable.
"The developer, Perbadanan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) has reported
that the area contains limestone bedrock which is not suitable for high-
rise buildings, especially low-cost flats," he said.
PNSB carried out soil test and found that it needed a special and
technical construction method, and this would not be cost-effective if
they are building low-cost flats.
"The developer is worried that the buildings might collapse if they use
the conventional construction method," he said.
He added that the developer is willing to pay RM7,000 to each family to
seek alternative low-cost flats in the municipality.
The mixed development project at the 10-hectare Kampung Berembang is a
joint venture between PNSB and PNSB Acmar Sdn Bhd.
Initially, the project was to be on a 20-hactare plot of land but half
of it was taken over by the Storm Water Management and Road Tunnel (SMART)
project.
The decision irked councillors present at the council's full-board
meeting yesterday. They claimed that the developer should have carried out
the soil test earlier and informed the council of the find.
"Why didn't they inform us earlier? So many promises were made to the
squatters and now this. This is ridiculous," said Cempaka State
Assemblyman Datuk Mad Aris Mad Yusof.
Lembah Jaya State Assemblyman Datuk Ismail Kijo agreed and urged the
council to ask for a full report from the developer.
"I think we should appoint independent consultant or Ikram Berhad to
carry out soil check at the location as the developer's report might be
biased," he said.
"We need the low cost flats to solve the squatters problem. The proposed
flats would provide proper homes to 1,024 squatter families from Kampung
Berembang," he said.
Ismail added that if the highrise buildings are not suitable, then the
council should allocate a bigger plot for low rise flats.
"The low cost units take only less than a hectare to build," he said.
Ismail added that the council should not allow this to happen as it
would set a precedent to other developers to pay a certain amount of
compensation just to shed their responsibility from building low-cost
flats.
"Paying RM7,000 per family would not be a problem for a developer as
they would gain more if they build other types of houses," he said.
Bukit Antarabangsa State Assemblyman Azman Wahid said it is unfair to
the squatters if they had to be relocated elsewhere.
"By next month, the squatters who are renting houses would have to pay
these rentals themselves. We have the responsibility to help them as we
are the ones who promised them the low-cost flats," he said.
Ahmad Shafii said the proposals and opinion of the councillors will be
forwarded to the State Government.
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