JOHOR BARU: The Johor government has seen a drastic improvement in rent collection from People's Housing Project (PPR) residents, thanks to an innovative resident profiling and engagement campaign.
The effort boosted collections from RM6.9 million in 2022 to RM24.9 million last year.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor attributed the surge in payments to the targeted profiling and stronger residents' engagement strategies.
He said this year's collection, as of August, stood at RM18.9 million.
Jafni said the state government launched the profiling exercise to identify residents who had been neglecting rent payments for years, and also those who were ineligible.
The profiling also helped to identify the number of vehicles the residents owned to better manage parking issues.
"When the profiling programme was launched, many did not respond. Some residents even resorted to slamming their doors shut, when the PPR's appointed rent collectors came knocking.
"We realised that it wasn't that they could not afford the rental but it was their mindset.
"Why pay when you can get away scot free... that was their mindset," he told the New Straits Times.
"So, we took the next best step by engaging them in our residents' engagement initiative."
To encourage participation in the profiling effort, the state government distributed food baskets to PPR residents.
The initiative, which included verifying household incomes, also helped to identified those who abused the PPR housing programme.
It was through this process that they discovered more than 2,000 residents who were no longer qualified for the subsidised housing, as their household income exceeded RM3,000.
The PPR units are rented for RM240 a month, but many residents did not pay their rent, while some even rented out the subsidised housing for profit.
Some were charging third-party renters up to RM800 a month while paying only RM240 themselves.
Jafni pointed out that the practice violated the guidelines of the PPR programme.
He said most PPR were located in the state capital in strategic locations which were highly sought-after by those who did not qualify for the units.
He said the state government also had the Rumah Sewa Kerajaan (RSK) programme offered in districts such as Segamat, Kluang, Batu Pahat and Kulai, with rental rates as low as RM124 per month.
Besides the profiling and engagement efforts, the Johor government spent RM63.5 million to rejuvenate the aging properties.
Jafni said the facilities and amenities were either repaired, upgraded or replaced.
The authorities also implemented a gated-community system in the PPR housing estates, with entry scanning systems at the entrances.
Based on the profiling initiatives, they knew how many cars each household had, and limited parking lots to a household each.
Each household received an access card and through the scanning system was allowed to enter the housing estate and park.
This, said Jafni, also enhanced security measures.
Those who defaulted in their rent, were denied entry.
Jafni said he personally received backlash from the residents who were unhappy with the system, but those who were prompt in paying their rent welcomed the move.
"Again, like I said, it's about the mindset…we were able to show them that the rental collected went back to rejuvenating their housing condition. They witnessed how RM63.5 million was spent, and how it benefitted them," he said.
He added that residents received the access tags as part of the profiling process.
These efforts, said Jafni, were part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate the PPR housing estate and improve living conditions.
"The rent collected was used to repair amenities and facilities, but the real challenge was changing the residents' mindset.
"We want to align their thinking with the state's Maju Johor agenda, so that they see these homes not just as handouts, but as a stepping stone to better opportunities," he said.
To ensure accountability, representatives have been appointed within PPR communities to ensure the cleanliness of the premises, while various engagement programmes, including free tuition for children and a resident-guard system were also implemented.
For residents who still refuse to pay rent, the state government has taken a firm stance, blocking their access.
"The government has spent millions to rejuvenate these areas, and it's time the residents take some responsibility as well," he said.
The state's PPR schemes are primarily located in areas like Tebrau, Kempas, and Iskandar Puteri.