{
  "id": 5509231,
  "title": "Opposition appeals to Penang to reconsider plans to seal apartment units",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/opposition-appeals-to-penang-to-reconsider-plans-to-seal-apartment",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T07:04:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/lifestyles/126947/opposition-appeals-to-penang-to-reconsider-plans-to-seal-apartment-units"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Opposition parties in Penang have urged the state government to reconsider plans to seal apartment units of occupants who do not qualify for the Taman Manggis transit housing scheme. The Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) Penang spokesperson, Choo Chon Kai, emphasized that the state should not proceed with further actions until a thorough audit of the 320 units is conducted to verify that only the needy and deserving tenants are allowed to stay. Choo noted that five apartments were sealed off recently, and residents were informed that more units might also be subject to eviction.\n\nThe state housing board must be mindful that, in their rush to evict the alleged defaulters or ineligible tenants, some individuals may still be unable to find alternative accommodation, Choo stated. A case in point was a bachelor who was evicted due to the loss of his parents, while another couple was forced out because the husband is married to an Indonesian citizen. Choo called for a review of the conditions for staying at Taman Manggis, suggesting that the monthly income threshold for eligible tenants should be raised from RM1,500 to RM3,000, given the rising living costs.\n\nParti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) assemblyman Izhar Shah Arif Shah urged the state to exercise restraint with humanitarian considerations in mind. Shah plans to visit the housing area over the weekend to personally assess the situation in the transit home scheme. State executive councillor Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo acknowledged that the scheme has been abused, with some tenants overstaying and even owning two vehicles while claiming poverty. Sundarajoo, who oversees the housing portfolio, stated that while the state is empathetic toward the needy, certain tenants should not exploit the system.\n\nPAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim affirmed that the Islamist party views the matter seriously, emphasizing that the country should be governed based on welfare needs. Ibrahim stressed the importance of exercising empathy as politicians, stating that if tenants are poor, the government should provide assistance.",
  "summary": "OPPOSITION parties in Penang have appealed to the state government to reconsider plans to seal apartment units of occupants who do not qualify to stay at the Taman Manggis transit housing scheme here. Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) Penang spokesperson...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Penang authorities seal transit home units, occupants appeal for leniency",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/penang-authorities-seal-transit-home-units-occupants-appeal-for",
        "published": "2026-09-04T01:28:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}