PERMAS acknowledges the sincere explanations by the Political Secretary of the newly elected MB Tan Sri Khaled with regards to the statements made about pursuing the “zero-squatter policies of the former Selangor MB Mohd Khir Toyo.
Our previous open letter in response to MB Khaled’s statements was also a sincere and constructive response in the spirit of Democratic freedom of expression towards the issue which has been the primary focus of PERMAS’ vision and mission for the past almost 2 decades.
We wholeheartedly appreciate and welcome the dialogue and meeting with the new Government of Selangor with regards to squatter issues and also other urgent housing issues such as the temporary longhouse dwellers and also those living in the dilapidated low cost flats. Also important are the issues of the hard core poor who have been relocated to rental units of the Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) and are given a maximum of only 5 years occupy the rented units at RM124 per month. What will they do next when the lease expires?
We are actually very eager and willing to work with the new Selangor government to the extent that we will draw upon all our resources from the ground level and organizational level to support and participate meaningfully with the Selangor government to address the issues of the squatters, longhouses and low cost flats (both, owned or rented).
PERMAS is committed to a “hands on” approach in supporting and working with the new Selangor Government and also the newly elected members of Parliament in the Federal Territory from the PKR-DAP-PAS coalition to realize a better future for the urban poor in the Selangor State and Kuala Lumpur City. We believe that civil society movements and organizations such as PERMAS are agents of change and will not merely be bystanders in the development of our Malaysian society.
We truly realize the difficulties of running the new government especially in the dynamic state of Selangor and having to pay due attention to all sectors concerned in the issues of urban planning and housing for the poor. Certain parties especially the former Selangor Mentri Besar will definitely seize this opportunity to gain political mileage by scrutinizing & criticizing the efforts of the new Selangor State government. But in reality much of the bitterness and feeling of abandonment felt by the urban poor in Selangor State is a result of the high-handed and “pro-developer” attitude and actions of the former MB Mohd Khir Toyo.
PERMAS believes that if the present Selangor state government under the able leadership of Tan Sri Khaled is to succeed in achieving a squatter= and longhouse free-state, where every urban poor family will have a permanent house, they would definitely need the close cooperation and consultation with the wider urban poor communities, NGO’s and civil society movements.
We have confidence and trust that the new governments in Selangor state and the other 4 states under the leadership of the PKR-DAP-PAS coalition will work hard to fulfill their campaign promises made to the people. After all, we the “rakyat” are the ones who voted them into office!
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