CATEGORISED as unsafe and a dengue hotspot by the Ipoh City Council, 42 families living in the Sungai Pari Flats have been offered alternative housing in the nearby Buntong Harmoni Flats.

Unfortunately, not all of the Sungai Pari Flat residents understood the contents of the letter offering alternative housing or how to go about replying the council, said Ipoh Barat MCA Youth Chief Aldrich Low Guo Nan.

“Residents of the council flats had 14 days from July 10 to reply.

“So far, only 10 families have done so. We have come here to explain to them the council’s offer and also to assist them in their applications.

“After this, we will meet with council officials to seek an extension of the deadline.

“Hopefully, the residents can be given up until end of this month to reply.”

“We also hope the council can also get its officers to go from door to door to speak to and assist the residents in this matter,” he said.

According to the letter, only those who agree to move will be put up in the Buntong Harmoni Flats while those who disagree will have to find alternative housing on their own.

Ipoh Barat MCA Elections Committee Chairman Dr Cheng Wei Yee said some of the residents, mostly the elderly and those in the lower-income group, have asked that the council provide them with a moving allowance.

“Due to their age and without any income, they are unable to move house themselves or to hire people to do it for them.

“In this respect, Ipoh Barat MCA will get volunteers to help them move.

“There are also those who have requested units on the ground floor due to their health or age.

“This will be relayed to the council for its consideration,” Dr Cheng said.

Tailor Yow Ah Mei @ Yow Yoke Mei, 71, said she is thankful that the council has offered her another place to stay.

“This place is run-down and dilapidated. Everything is broken and there are frequent thefts. My son and his wife recently moved away as they were no longer able to stand the deplorable conditions here.

“In the meantime, I hope the council will do more to upkeep this place. There is rubbish everywhere and rubbish collection is irregular, so much so there are maggots at the bottom of the garbage chutes.

“The drains are also clogged and breeding mosquitoes,” she said.

While he is willing to move, former lorry driver Cheng Chin Wah said he suffers from a back injury and will not be able to climb the stairs at the Buntong Harmoni Flats.

“I am trying to request for a unit at the Kinta Heights, which has lifts. Hopefully, my request will be granted,” said the 63-year-old.

-The Star-