150 Cameron families submit request for affordable homes

PUTRAJAYA: Representatives of 150 poor families from Cameron Highlands are hoping that the Pakatan Harapan government will help fulfil their dreams of getting affordable homes at the hill station.
A spokesperson from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)'s Affordable Housing Committee, Peter Mariasoosai said the group has been highlighting the problem to the previous Barisan Nasional-led government since April 2017.
"This is the seventh time we have brought up this matter to the Prime Minister's Office. With the advent of a new government we only hope that our humble request will be considered and given priority," he told reporters when met at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, here, today.
Mariasoosai claimed that the previous government had initially promised the construction of 100 homes with 50 homes to be built at Ringlet and the remaining around Tanah Rata and Brinchang.
"We are hoping that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as well as the Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, will consider our plight.
"The majority of the families include lorry drivers, taxi drivers, security guards and field workers who live all over Cameron Highlands, including Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang are unable to afford any house under the current affordable housing projects," he added.
He later submitted a copy of a memorandum which requested for an appointment with the relevant authorities to discuss several measures in relation to the affordable housing plans.
A copy of the memorandum was also submitted to KPKT, today.
Zuraida had announced, on Tuesday, that the National Affordable Housing Council is expected to begin its work by August once papers regarding its setting up are finalised by the Cabinet next month.
The council, she said is part of Pakatan Harapan's manifesto which will be tasked to monitor the construction of affordable housing, coordinating databases and to implement a self-renting scheme for the B40 and M40 groups nationwide.