Concern over vacant flat units

Unoccupied: Some of the units at the Jalan Kuching PKNS Flats.

The flats have been vacant since the army officers moved out earlier this year. — Picture by Goh Thean Howe from New Straits Times © 2009 NST Online

Source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/central/ (23 September 2009, by JADE CHAN)

Some 380 vacant units at the Jalan Kuching PKNS Flats that belong to the Defence Ministry are a cause for concern for the remaining residents and nearby business community.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said he wrote to the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) to enquire about the status of the flats after noticing that its tenants, comprising army personnel, were moving out in phases early this year. He said the flats were built by the PKNS in the 1970’s, when the land was still part of the Selangor.

A written reply by the PKNS stated that of the 602 units at the Jalan Kuching PKNS Flats in Kuala Lumpur, 10 blocks comprising 380 units had been sold to the Defence Ministry on Dec 24, 1975. Of the remaining five blocks comprising 220 units, 216 were sold to the public, two units are still being rented and two units serve as the PKNS site office. “The maintenance of the five blocks comprising Blocks E, F, G, H and J are still the PKNS’ responsibility, while the 10 blocks comprising Blocks A, B, C, D, K, L, M, N, P and Q are under the Defence Mininstry’s jurisdiction,” the letter stated. “The strata titles were issued by the Federal Territories Land District Office in 2008, and the PKNS is now transferring ownership of the units that were sold to the buyers in stages.” Lim said the residents of the remaining five blocks and traders operating various businesses nearby had appealed for his help to bring in more tenants. “The traders, who operate businesses like a sundry shop, salon, motorcycle workshop, general insurance and restaurants, claimed that their livelihood have been affected since the army personnel moved out. “There are also concerns that the abandoned flats are now a haunt for drug addicts, criminals and young couples conducting their own activities,” he said. Lim added that there was water wastage due to leaking or burst water pipes at most of the unoccupied blocks, and that the unkempt area is a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. He said he would ask the ministry about their plans for the flats during the next Parliament session in October. Lim said some of the suggestions brought up were that the flats could be rented or sold to the poor or be converted into hostels for teachers or college students or even be used as homes for orphans or senior citizens, subject to the residents’ approval.