Residents of the People’s Housing Programme (PPR) in Lembah Subang 1 experienced this first hand after banding together to beautify their lift lobby.
During a recent visit, FMT Lifestyle caught up with several residents from Level 13 in Block A. Needless to say, the decorated lift lobby in shades of teal blue and grey, with elegant gold frames and mirrors adorning the walls, was a sight to behold.
“We chose the concept of a hotel lobby so residents would feel a sense of peace upon reaching home, especially after a long day at work,” said Siti Norzanizan Mohamed, 46, a resident there for 18 years.
There are eight blocks in the PPR, she explained, and each level was allocated RM500, except for the larger area at the ground floor that was allocated RM3,000 for refurbishment.
This is an initiative under the “Kita-Untuk-Kita” programme by Think City, an organisation aimed at making cities more liveable and sustainable. The refurbishment project is also supported by the ministry of finance and the ministry of housing and local government.
To make the initiative more exciting, a competition between each level as well as the eight blocks was introduced, with winners chosen based on cleanliness and creativity.
Each level showcases the artistic talents and hard work of the residents. For instance, the serene shades of green complemented with artificial plants instantly gave Level 15 an atmosphere of peace and calm.
On Level 8, patriotism is flying high with the country’s Jalur Gemilang and state flags adorning the walls. There are also beautiful paintings of the national monument, A Famosa and the Petronas Twin Towers, among other iconic architectural structures in Malaysia.
But winning the competition isn’t everything, Siti said. “I’ve encouraged the residents not to prioritise winning but to do our best so that we can live comfortably.”
In fact, residents even contributed additional funds so they could spruce up the entire floor, painting the corridor and installing a new CCTV to replace a faulty one.
“Everyone played their part. Some collected funds while others bought the items and painted the walls. We are all excited about this,” she said, adding that they are currently working on the stairs.
More than just making their floor more aesthetically-pleasing, residents have experienced other benefits. “Our children now enjoy spending time playing here,” she said.
“Some kids also advise others how to maintain the cleanliness of the area now that we’ve spruced it up,” added Norazila Mohd Hilali, 42, a resident of 21 years.
The adults have taken advantage of the transformed lift lobby and organised get-togethers of their own there. “I’ve got to know some residents better through this initiative. It feels good,” said Norazila.
News about their efforts went viral recently and Norazila was pleasantly surprised to receive compliments from even her siblings. “It makes our hard work worthwhile,” she said with a smile.
Siti, too, has received encouraging comments on her TikTok account, with some saying that this initiative should be introduced in other PPRs. It’s a sentiment she agrees with. “We have experienced the benefits it brings, especially in fostering closer ties with one another,” she concluded.