SEPANG, April 16 — The Selangor government has denied claims that it provided temporary rental houses in remote areas to victims of the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights in Selangor on April 1.
State executive councillor for housing and culture Datuk Borhan Aman Shah said the temporary placements offered were based on vacant houses throughout the state and that victims are free to choose a location that suited their needs.
Taking the example of the temporary rental houses offered at Pangsapuri Seri Suria in Kota Warisan, he said the Smart Sewa scheme provided 100 vacant units for victims.
“We give them (victims) the advantage to choose (a house to rent)… it is up to the victims (to choose) which one is more comfortable.
“… but what we are offering is a (new) house and not a house that has been used or occupied but a new house,” he told the press after handing over the keys to the temporary accommodation to two victims today.
Previously, there were allegations that the state government was offering temporary houses to victims of the Putra Heights incident in remote areas far from their homes.
On Monday (April 14), Borhan said the Selangor government was offering 100 units of temporary rental houses at a rate of RM850 per month at the Sri Suria Apartment to victims of the gas pipeline fire incident in Putra Heights
He added that so far, they have received 75 applications for rental accommodation at the Seri Suria Apartment, and the relevant process is being carried out to enable eligible victims to live in the apartment.
"We look at those who need a house and do not yet own a house and (if) we find that they are eligible, we can consider them directly, and they do not have to pay a deposit because this is a special case.
"There is also another process which we have to check with the district office because, as I mentioned, we are afraid that we may have overlooked it or that someone may take advantage. We do not want any problems to arise later," Borhan said.
The fire on April 1 destroyed 81 houses, with structural damage exceeding 40 per cent, partially destroyed 81, and affected 57 but not burned, while 218 houses were not affected, including in Kampung Tengah Puchong.
— Bernama
