Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Seeking a decent place to call home
| It has been more than 16 years, but some 1,200 families still call these Kawasan Perumahan Awam Jinjang Utara longhouse units in Kuala Lumpur home. — NST pictures by Syaharim Abidin Syaharim Abidin |
KUALA LUMPUR: Manikam Raman, 58, longs for the day when he and his family will be able to move into a decent — and permanent — home.
For 15 years, home has been a 4m by 5m room in a Kawasan Perumahan Awam Jinjang Utara longhouse.
"We moved into the longhouse in 1992 and were promised a house by Kuala Lumpur City Hall within five years, but we are still here," he said.
Manikam and his family of 15 were relocated to the area from Kampung Kasipillai, Sentul, to make way for development.
Even after more than a decade, he has not given up hope that the promise will materialise as he cannot afford to buy a house.
"I don't know how long we have to live here," he said.
Manikam's despair is shared by Tan Heik Hock, who has also lived in the longhouse for more than 10 years.
"It is hard here as fights and thefts are common," said the 40-year old contractor.
The longhouse complex where 1,200 families live received its first resident in November 1991.
The 27-acre plot is divided into three areas, A, B and C, and there are a total of 1,648 units. The residents pay City Hall a monthly rent of RM45.
It is a temporary relocation site for squatters from places outside Jinjang, such as Kepong, Segambut and Sentul, but after 16 years, residents are still waiting for the permanent homes they were promised.
Mary Ramamoorthy, 30, who works for Acts Global Network, a non-governmental organisation, helps to oversee the welfare of the community.
"Gangsterism is the main problem here. Fights occur everyday," she said. Fifty per cent of the residents live in poverty and 70 per cent are alcoholics while one in five is a drug addict.
"Children as young as 11 become drug pushers as they say it is the easiest way to get money," she added.
Acts Global is helping residents with funds and holding classes, including lessons on moral values.
"But our focus is the children. We have various activities for the young so that they will be able to lead a better life and hopefully be an example to their peers," Mary said.
"I want to see the place transformed so that they can improve their lifestyle as the place is not conducive to bringing up a family." she said.
City Hall said the families were still living in the longhouses as no low-cost houses had been built in the area.
Director-general Datuk Salleh Yusop said City Hall was redeveloping the area in stages.
"All the approvals have been given for public housing to be built in the area and they will have a chance to buy the low-cost houses," he said.
The three-room units will cost RM42,000. "Those who cannot afford them can move into rented low-cost houses."
