GEORGE TOWN: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming says the ministry is mulling a gated community concept for future public housing projects in a bid to ensure residents pay maintenance fees.
He said there were People's Housing Projects (PPR) residents who failed to pay maintenance fees even though they could afford to.
"They enjoy the facilities but deliberately refuse to pay (maintenance fees)," Nga told a press conference here.
"For example, there is a PPR in Perlis where most units have Astro and can afford to pay maintenance fees but many do not.
"So it is not an inability to pay, but negligence or a lack of responsibility."
Nga said this was why the ministry would propose a gated community concept for future People's Residential Programme (PRR), a follow-up initiative to the PPR.
"We will give those who pay maintenance fees access cards, those who do not, I am sorry, we will have to study this."
Nga said PRR applicants will be required to attend a briefing session on a resident's responsibilities, including paying maintenance fees.
"I know Malaysians are good, it is just that sometimes they may not understand they have responsibilities and obligations.
"That is our (government) job, to educate them," he said, adding the PRR would be launched in 2025.
Earlier, Nga handed over keys to unit owners of Residensi Bukit Gelugor, a PR1MA project.