Rep: More practical to improve existing facilities at KMC Flats
KUCHING: It is more practical for the existing facilities at the Kuching Municipal Council ( KMC) Flats here to be improved for a better living condition of tenants rather than having them rebuilt.
Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei said the current conditions and facilities of the KMC Flats were ‘ far from good’ and that the lifts of two blocks ‘Lingga’ and ‘Engkilili’ had been malfunctioning since two months ago.
“I am sick of minister or mayor talking a lot but not being practical. They should think from the tenants’ perspective, not from their perspective.
“DAP’s stand is that the land, which has been dedicated for welfare purpose by the British colonial government before the formation of Malaysia, must be reserved for welfare purpose, to help the poor.
“There are a few sick and old people living there. Without the operation of the lifts, such people can’t even come down from where they live. Furthermore, without the lifts, there is no one willing to deliver gas cylinders to them on the higher floors. Can’t Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and Mayor of Kuching City South Council Datuk James Chan understand their plight?” he said yesterday when prompted for comments on Dr Sim having said the KMC Flats might be rebuilt.
Wong said the minister ought to be more practical instead of ‘ talking big’.
The condition of the whole place ( KMC Flats) must be elevated to be more liveable, including upgrading the basic facilities, sport and recreational facilities as well as maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the place, he said.
“I have more worries and doubts than peace of mind on this ( Dr Sim saying the KMC Flats may be rebuilt), especially when it comes from a habitual land- grabbing Barisan Nasional government.
“I’d rather opt for upgrading the existing facilities. I worry that the ‘rebuild’ will be done to give way to profiteering projects of cronies,” said the DAP law-maker.
He added Dr Sim should reveal a proper and cogent plan for rebuilding the KMC Flats, if there was any.
“More details should be given like how extensive the project will be. Demolish wholly or partly? How to resettle the current tenants? Going to be more units or less? The size of one unit?”
He added the government should also consult tenants for they would be the ones most affected.
On Thursday, Dr Sim said it was time to think of rebuilding the KMC Flats so that tenants could enjoy better facilities.
He said he was hoping ‘to engage with the people who live there so that I have an idea of what type of flats they want us to rebuild’.
“In the old days the flats were very big but now they are very small. That is why I’m looking forward to go down to engage and speak to the residents,” he told reporters at the MBKS- organised ‘ngiling tikai’ ceremony.