Penang CM defends move by housing board, says enforcement is last resort

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has defended the state housing board's decision to seal off five units of the Taman Manggis transit community housing scheme. The action left two families homeless for the night, while the remaining three households found shelter with relatives and friends. The move was only carried out after the occupants lost their eligibility to qualify for the transit housing scheme and refused to cooperate with the relocation process despite numerous warnings.

Chow explained that the community housing scheme was intended as temporary accommodation for eligible applicants, who were given five years to improve their circumstances and find other housing. However, some families had been staying in the community housing for up to 19 years beyond the intended period. The limited number of PPR (limited-provision-program) units meant the state also had a responsibility to ensure those who had waited for years to secure a home received the opportunity to be offered vacant units.

If residents refused to cooperate, enforcement action would follow as per the normal process. Chow stressed that the objective was not to penalize residents but to ensure fairness to all parties given the shortage of PPR units.