Jeffrey Phang, an activist for community affairs, told FMT the current standard size of 700 sq ft was not suitable for large households.
“A unit of 700 sq ft is too small for a family of 10, for instance,” he said. “I think right now they live in a place with no dignity.”
Phang is the chairman of the community group MyPJ.
He said PPRs should also have facilities like a study hall for children.
“If you look at some PPRs, like the one at Lembah Subang, there is hardly any space for other activities,” he said. “So you are confined to your small unit.”
“The size of rooms is one thing, but it is equally important to have a study hall for children so they can study comfortably.”
He also said it was important to have good management to look after the building and facilities.
Phang was commenting on a study done by Khazanah Research Institute (KRI), which found that 700 sq ft PPR units were no longer feasible due to different household sizes. KRI said the units needed to be upgraded to at least 800 sq ft.
Nearly 4,000 households from five PPRs – four in Kuala Lumpur and one in Penang – were surveyed between 2016 and 2017.
KRI’s report said the household sizes in these PPRs tended to range between three to six family members and about 14% of households experienced overcrowding, which it defined as more than two people per bedroom.
Hamdan Abdul Majeed, the managing director of Think City, an organisation that promotes the creation of sustainable and equitable spaces, also spoke to FMT about the issue, saying there needed to be macro-level policies and programmes when planning PPRs.
Hamdan said accommodating physical activities and creating safe social spaces was vital to improving mental health and wellness among children living in the PPRs’ confined spaces.
“To realise this, spatial planning is key,” he said.
“Agile policies can accelerate the relevant ministries and agencies to work together in redesigning PPRs to create communal spaces that allow residents to function as inclusive communities.
“This must also include spaces for children to learn, play and grow under adult supervision.”