KUALA LUMPUR: Even under the scorching morning sun, dozens of elderly homeowners of dilapidated flats turned up outside Parliament to show support for the Urban Renewal Act on Wednesday (Aug 27).
Despite their age, the seniors displayed determination as they held up banners with messages of support for the Urban Renewal Act for hours as the heat intensified into noon.
Numbering well over 50, the group comprised residents from flats in Taman Desa Bakti in Selayang, Taman Maluri in Cheras and Taman Seri Indah in Petaling Jaya.
Leading the group was Taman Seri Indah resident association chairperson Rahimah Aghafor, 71, who described the current state of her flat’s living conditions.
“The building is decades old and has so many issues from the lack of stairs, frequent broken wires and leaking pipes in my toilet and roofs.
“Without the Urban Renewal Act to help make our homes and communities liveable again, how are we supposed to live?
“We want our rights to live in a proper home with enough rooms for the family and toilets so everyone does not have to share the same toilet,” she said.
Another resident, Vijayan Singaram, 65, said the disrepair of his flat in Taman Maluri was in desperate need of redevelopment that had been ignored for years.
“Many of us have lived with leaky roofs for years since repairing it even once can cost over RM2,000.
“Many of those who oppose the Urban Renewal Act do not live here or even know the state of homes here but insist it is bad for us.
“They are welcome to come live in our homes for a month to see if they can still say the same after,” he said.
He added his community had been following proper procedures and helping fellow homeowners for months to obtain the paperwork needed for the redevelopment of their flat.
“Our house is our responsibility, if we make the majority decision, they should be supporting us instead of trying to stop us,” said the managing corporation chairman of his flat’s block.
The group cheered upon the arrival of Housing and Local Development Minister Nga Kor Ming shortly after, who then received a memorandum of support from the residents for the Urban Renewal Act at the gates of Parliament.
Nga Kor Ming then assured the group that the second reading of the Urban Renewal Act would be done latest by Thursday (Aug 28) in Parliament.
“This is the voice of the people, those who oppose the Urban Renewal Act should come and talk to these residents,” Nga told reporters before returning to Parliament.
Nga tabled the Urban Renewal Act for its first reading at the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Aug 21) with its second reading currently planned for Wednesday (Aug 27).
