They said it came as a surprise with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin having visited their Tanjung Aru low-cost flats, better known as Rumah Pangsa Tanjung Aru, with Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor just two months ago.
It was previously reported that the prime minister spent some time talking to residents at the flats, which was built in 1970, and listened to their day-to-day challenges.
On Monday, the tenants were surprised to see the eviction notice by the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB) at an office for the flats.
The notice was signed by LPPB general manager Rosemary Ahping.
Dewi Awang, who heads the flats’ recently-formed action bureau, said the notice informed the 315 households, comprising over 1,000 residents staying in 11 blocks, that they needed to find new homes on their own and vacate the units as soon as possible.
Dewi said LPPB claimed the structural integrity of the buildings, built 50 years ago, was now in question and could be detrimental to the residents’ safety.
“LPPB never held any discussion or sought consent from the residents before issuing this eviction (notice). We have been paying the RM170 rent regularly all this while,” Dewi said at a press conference arranged by Warisan’s Tanjung Aru assemblyman Junz Wong.
“LPPB said it only had a limited number of homes available for us to rent elsewhere.
“Hence, it said priority would be given to residents who were physically challenged (OKU), senior citizens, those whose units have suffered severe damage and those who have no backlog in rental payments.”
She added that all other residents were told to find alternative homes on their own to rent.
According to Dewi, LPPB was being unfair to the tenants as many could not afford to rent new homes, adding that the Covid-19 pandemic had caused many of them to lose their jobs and income.
Many of the residents, she said, comprised those from the B40 low-income group, single mothers, senior citizens, OKU and hardcore poor. Any relocation would only add to their cost of living.
Dewi said the residents only had one request.
“Allow us to continue staying at the flats until the LPPB finds a new settlement nearby for all 315 households.
“As for the safety aspect, we request them to commence the necessary repairs and maintenance of the buildings while we are still staying here.”
Earlier today, LPPB chairman Masiung Banah said the tenants had been given until the end of the year to move out.
He said they did not mean to chase out the tenants but wanted to inform them to make early preparations to find new homes, adding this was to ensure their safety.
“As the land and flats owner, LPPB is liable to lawsuits if anything happens to the tenants, such as injuries caused by structural failure,” he said.
He added that the government was aware of the economic hardship brought by the pandemic and would provide due assistance, but the tenants will still have to move out for their own safety.
According to Masiung, LPPB had also submitted proposals to the chief minister, which included housing options for eligible tenants.
“But it is up to them (tenants) whether to cooperate if we give them these options. If they don’t, then it would be difficult to solve this problem,” he said.
Andrew Wong, another member of the Rumah Pangsa Tanjung Aru action bureau, said the notice did not give a time frame to move out and only informed residents to move out as soon as possible.
“So, how can we believe this year-end time frame by LPPB? We also don’t know where the eligible tenants would be moving to. We need all these in writing,” he said.
Junz said the best way now is for the Sabah local government and housing ministry, LPPB and other relevant agencies to hold a detailed discussion with the tenants.
“We don’t need to politicise this issue. The LPPB and the ministry need to explain the plan to the people. Will they be relocated? Will the flats be rebuilt and prioritised for existing tenants or other eligible people in Tanjung Aru?
“Now is a very difficult time because of the pandemic. It is not right to tell these people to move now.
“The state government says it is a people-oriented government. So, they must hold a meeting or dialogue with the tenants to answer the questions and clear the confusion immediately,” he said.