JOHOR BAHRU: A total of 21 families in the Kempas Permai People's Housing Project (PPR) here are at a loss after receiving notices to vacate their units within a week.
One resident, Rosmida Hussin, 45, said she entered the said house on October 10 last year and received a notice to vacate the unit on June 5.
She said that she and a group of residents were dismayed when accused of 'trespassing' even though each had settled payments ranging from RM3,000 to RM5,000 before moving into the house.
"When we entered this house, we were informed that the management was looking for new tenants as there were vacant units after the previous tenants moved out. If we wanted to fill those vacancies, the condition imposed was that we had to settle the arrears of the previous tenants.
"This offer was said to be available for a limited time, so we had to borrow money, pawn gold, borrow from family members, and even sell vehicles to get financial resources in a short period of time," she said when met here today.
Rosmida said she made a payment of RM3,500 to the block leader's bank account and was promised an offer letter to occupy the PPR unit.
However, she said, when the group of residents demanded the offer letter, the block leader gave various excuses.
"We thought our names would be entered into the system and we were waiting for the offer letter, unfortunately, we were stamped as trespassers and asked to pay a fine for trespassing.
"To make matters worse, we only have seven days left to vacate the residence, which is before June 18," she said, adding that she filed a police report at the Skudai police station on June 6.
Meanwhile, a single mother, Zarifah Abu Bakar, 68, said most of the affected tenants were from the needy group.
"Before this, I lived in Taman Daya, before a friend informed me of the opportunity to occupy a PPR unit for a certain payment.
"I had to pawn gold to make a payment of RM3,500, which was handed directly to the block leader before we were allowed to occupy the PPR unit more than three months ago.
"We don't know what happened to the money collected by the block leader because he claimed to have handed it over to the management representative," she said, adding that she has a disabled child (OKU).
According to her, various parties including the Johor Menteri Besar and Johor State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman have intervened to address the issue.
She said they have no other choice of residence if they are forced to vacate the unit.
"Imagine if we entered illegally, why would the management be supplying electricity and water to our residence?
"We are worried about losing our homes and want to request the state government's mercy to consider our appeal to continue living here," she said.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain an explanation from the Johor State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman, Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor were not fruitful as he is in Makkah.