http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/5/20/central/6288709&sec=central
MORE than 500 Petaling Jaya council employees illegally own low-cost flat units, a city councillor was told.
MBPJ councillor Mak Khuin Weng said he received a tip-off last month on alleged misuse of low-cost flats allocation in Petaling Jaya and wants an investigation conducted as soon as possible.
"I have received no official word that Selcat would pursue the matter since my first statement was made" MAK KHUIN WENG
“I received an anonymous letter last month which stated that these officers were not eligible to purchase these houses as their household income was above RM2,500. I want the council to do an audit so we can find out if the allegations are true,” said Mak.
He said that the letter further alleged that the information on these employees could be traced using the following methods:
· A search through the assessment tax records for details of property owners available from the MBPJ valuation department.
· A search through the records of individual certificate of fitness issued to each low-cost flat unit purchaser by the MBPJ building department.
· A search through the records of a named bank that provided most of the loans for low-cost flat unit purchases.
“As proof, the anonymous writer provided a copy of a bank loan statement for a low-cost unit. The copy of the loan allegedly bore the names of persons who were related to a senior MBPJ officer,” he said.
As a result of the allegation, Mak has written a request to the MBPJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman on April 29 to conduct an investigation to ascertain the relationship of these persons to the senior officer.
“I have requested, in the same letter, that an audit of all low-cost housing ownership be done using the prescribed method in the letter to trace these staff members and that the results of the audit be forwarded to the Select Committee for Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) for further investigation and action.
“The request was copied to all MBPJ local councillors, the MBPJ secretary Puasa Md Taib, Selangor Exco Ronnie Liu, Selcat chairperson Teng Chang Khim, Selcat deputy chairperson Haniza Mohamed Talha and Selcat committee member Edward Lee.
This was Mak’s second statement on the matter of improper ownership of low-cost flat units following his statement in February revealing two senior MBPJ officers owning low-cost apartment units despite drawing a salary of more than RM2,500 at the time of purchase.
Prime target: A number of units at this low-cost apartment block in Petaling Jaya are allegedly owned by senior MBPJ officers.
“I have received no official word that Selcat would pursue the matter since my first statement was made. The mayor had also given assurances to the media after the March full board meeting that the matter would be investigated by the MBPJ disciplinary committee but the matter has not been tabled to date either,” said Mak.
He added that he had in the past received complaints from former squatter village residents who were promised a chance to purchase a low-cost unit yet never received the offer once the construction of the low-cost flat was completed.
“These former squatter residents have shown me proof that they were interviewed and given alternative accommodation prior to waiting for the demolition of their village to make way for development and subsequent relocation to the completed flat in their former locale.
“The plight of these former squatter residents may be related to the purchase of low-cost flat units by MBPJ officers who may not be qualified to do so, thereby depriving these legitimate qualifiers from getting their rightful homes. That is why I am requesting for an audit and for thorough investigations to be done,” he said.
As of press time, the MBPJ has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
Both Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS) and the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) websites states that those who want to apply for low-cost housing must be Malaysians above 18 years old, do not own any houses, and do not have a combined household income above RM2,500.
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