KUCHING: Housing woes faced by Malay and Melanau communities in Sarawak must be addressed quickly and effectively by Gabungan Parti Sarawak the ruling coalition in the state.
Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member, Pandi Suhaili said if the problem were to be addressed just before the next state election the people would perceive the effort as an election gimmick.
“Nobody will take last minute effort seriously. Even children will say such a move will be nothing but an election gimmick,”he told The Borneo Post in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
Pandi was saddened that many families, are squatting in one house now as the newlyweds could not afford to buy their own property.
“Some houses are shared by five families. You are not only seeing the father, the son family, grandson family and in some extreme cases even the great grandchildren families are sharing the old family house because they cannot afford to buy a home,” he said.
Pandi added that house prices has risen up to RM500,000 each in urban centres like Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu which is beyond the reach of most young couples.
“There is no way for a family with a household income less than RM5,000 per month can afford such a house. I am not ashamed to say young Malay-Melanau families cannot afford to buy a house in town, especially in my hometown, Bintulu,” he lamented.
Pandi suggested the government should allocate a minimum of 25 points for each family in a village extension scheme as it would enable the family to expand and share that plot.
“In the past they gave only 10 points, after 5 years the same problem. By giving them 25 points, the children can extend the house or build few small houses near their parents’ home,” he explained.
Pandi welcome the announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr Abang Johari Tun Openg recently that all village extension projects will be implemented systematically with proper roads, drainage system and all basic infrastructure.
He stressed that housing problem faced the Malay-Melanau communities in Sarawak is very serious but solving it will require thousands of acres of land.
“From every 100 acres, we can provide homes to 400 families with good road, proper drainage, school and house of worship. We have the money, spend the money for the good of our people,” he said.
Pandi stressed that low cost housing schemes, especially flats in high rise buildings will only offer short term solution to the housing problem but will create bigger problems in future.
“Low cost flats in such a messy situation will create a lot of social issues,” he said, adding that examples of problematic low-cost housing flats can be found in many parts of the country.
Pandi said the state government had responded to the Dayak community’s call for recognition of their communal land Pemakai Menoa and Pulau Galau and it is only fair the Malay-Melanau village extension issue should be addressed as well because it also involve communal land rights.
He pointed out that the Malay-Melanau communities are paying the price of loyalty to the ruling government as by not raising protests and staking claims on land they once tilled they are losing their communal land.
Adding insult to injury even their kampong reserve land were alienated to private companies for oil palm plantation as in the case of Kampung Sebat Melayu in Sematan.
Pandi said the Sarawak government should look into the plight of the Kampung Sebat land owners and address their grievances.
The government can always take back the land awarded to these companies, pay back the premium to the provisional lease holders, after all the land were never given to these companies in perpetuity.
“Solve the people’sproblem. Find the best solution soonest possible. As the ruling party, it is our responsibility to help the people. If the Dayak rights over PMPG have been recognised, the Malays and Melanaus too should be allowed to claim their communal land,” he said.
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