Zero squatters plan on target




KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is on target with its plans to have zero number of squatters by the end of next year, partly because the squatters now have the option of paying just RM124 in monthly rent for a home.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday this worked out to a mere RM4 a day for a three-bedroom apartment.

“I don’t think you can get such a deal in any other country.

“Normally, the market rental rate for an apartment in this area would be around RM500 to RM800 a month,” he said in his speech at a ceremony to hand over keys to the People’s Housing Project in Jalan Cochrane, Cheras, here.

The 60 sq m apartments were for the squatters to live in and not to rent out to others for a profit, Najib said.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who was also present at the ceremony, said the relocation of the squatters showed the Government's commitment to addressing the housing problems of the people, particularly the lower-income group.







http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2004/10/13/nation/ong.jpg

VIP SIGNATURE: Najib signing a photograph for SMK (P) Pudu student Chang Soh Teng, 18, in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Looking on is Ong. — Bernamapic








On the Cochrane apartments, he said seven blocks of nine to 17 storeys were planned for the project comprising 1,620 units.

In Shah Alam, Ong said the ministry had received complaints that areas designated as green lungs had been developed for commercial or residential use.

“I do not know how and why this can happen but it has happened. When there is a green lung area, you are not to disturb the place,” he said when addressing town planners at the International Town Planning Day event at the Grand Blue Wave Hotel.

Ong said town planners must scrutinise building plans thoroughly to ensure they adhered to the country’s bylaws.

“It does not mean that if it is a state government project, you just blindly approve it. You have to treat it just like any other application, as a professional.

“If you encounter any form of pressure from any party, you can refer the matter to the National Physical Planning Council,” he said.

Ong said he had also received complaints that some local authorities had refused to approve applications to build places of worship for non-Muslims.

“Under the ministry’s guidelines for the development of townships, there are provisions for the construction of mosques and surau for Muslims and other places of worship for non-Muslims.

“Therefore, I hope these officers will not claim ignorance any more,” said Ong.

He added that local authorities should not impose conditions over and above what were stated in the guidelines.

yea! ZERO SQUATTER policy! An Extremely Timely one! Has MY vote :)

Housing for foreign workers

PUTRAJAYA: The Government is considering allowing companies which hire many foreign workers to rent unsold low-cost units, particularly in areas which Malaysians are not interested in.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said he would bring the matter up to the Cabinet for approval soon.

?Actually, the Cabinet has already discussed the matter but no decision has been taken. I'll bring the matter up again to the Cabinet and the relevant ministries,? he said after a dialogue with council members of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) at his ministry yesterday.

The matter was one of several proposals put forth by the FMM to the Government during the dialogue.

FMM president Datuk Mustafa Mansur said employers would not find it a problem to rent houses for their foreign workers as far as 100km away from their factories.

He said some companies operating in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya had been known to provide transport service for their workers living as far away as Kuala Selangor.

Azmi said there were many factors that the Government would need to consider before it could come to a decision on the matter, including the impact of allowing a high number of foreign workers to stay in one area of a neighbourhood and its financial implications on the Government.

The Government, he said, had also agreed to reconsider its plan to do away with companies that provided foreign workers on a contract basis to factories and other sectors that needed them.

He said the FMM had brought to his attention that the service provided by such companies was still needed as the demand for foreign workers in the manufacturing sector fluctuated according to season.

According to the FMM, hiring Malaysians was not an option as most of them were reluctant to work night shifts and were ?very choosy.?

Azmi said the Government would seriously look into whether there was a need for a specific organisation to take charge of foreign workers so as to curb the arrival of those without proper documents.

The Star Online > News
Sunday December 12, 2004
MB: Selangor has reached target

SHAH ALAM: Selangor’s intention to declare itself a developed state on Aug 31 next year will only be a formality as the state has already achieved its target.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said the state had been vigorously compared to 30 other countries under a “world competitiveness model” and had passed the ranking.

“Selangor compared itself against the 30 other countries on 75 indicators. As of June, Selangor achieved a top 20 ranking for 58 out of the 75 indicators.

“With an average achievement of 77.3% compared to the minimum standard of 70%, the state is already eligible for developed state status,” he said in his pledge of allegiance to Selangor's Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in conjunction with the celebration of the Sultan's 59th birthday yesterday.


Sultan Sharafuddin placing the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor medal on Najib at Istana Alam Shah in Klang Saturday.
The National Productivity Centre, assisted by the International Islamic University and Universiti Teknologi Mara, conducted the model analysis.

In giving an example, Dr Mohd Khir said the survey showed the per capita purchasing power parity for the state last year was US$11,782 (RM44,800) compared to the average US$10,000 (RM38,000) per capita of developed countries.

Next year, Dr Mohd Khir said, the state was on track to record three milestones.

Besides the developed state status, Selangor would also announce itself free of squatters and hardcore poor.

After achieving the zero-squatter target, Dr Mohd Khir said, the next aim would be to help families to own houses.

He also informed the Sultan that Selangor continued to be the main attraction for foreign and local investors, raking in RM25bil in investments since 2000.

“As many as 90,000 jobs were created from these investments,” he said.

On future growth, Dr Mohd Khir said the state had identified a few new sectors for development, including the biotechnology field and the halal food industry.

The Sultan later presented the highest award in the state to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, the sole recipient of the Darjah Kebesaran Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor, which carries the title Datuk Seri.

Najib headed the list of 126 people conferred awards.