We recently reported how the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Hannah Yeoh, highlighted that residents of the People’s Housing Project (PPR) and Public Housing (PA) in Kuala Lumpur owe RM14 million in rental arrears and RM12 million in unpaid water bills.
She urged residents to settle their outstanding balances, noting that it is unfair to those on the waitlist, especially given that the monthly rent is only RM124.
Hannah Yeoh’s statement draws criticism
Former MCA Vice-President Ti Lian Ker has since taken to Facebook to express his belief that the Minister has embarrassed the underprivileged rather than investigating why they are unable to afford their rent and bills.
“It is easy for the Minister to point out that PPR residents in Kuala Lumpur have rent arrears of RM26 million,” he wrote. “But what is more important is to understand why this situation is happening.”
He added, “PPRs were created for the urban poor. Many of these B40 residents live in situations where they earn enough in the morning to eat in the morning and earn enough in the evening to eat in the evening. If they fail to pay such a low rental rate, the government should find out the reason why they are living in a pinch and help them, not magnify the inabilities of the B40 group.”
Ti went on to state that the RM26 million debt is a negligible amount for the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL), representing only 0.0917% of its RM2.835 billion annual budget for 2025.
Proposing solutions over pressure
Ti suggested that the Federal Territories Ministry should implement constructive measures, such as temporary rental assistance programmes, phased repayment schemes, employment assistance, and welfare interventions to help PPR residents achieve financial stability.
He also argued that, instead of using the housing waitlist to pressure and shame existing residents, the authorities should investigate system leakages, waste, and inefficiencies to speed up the provision of new housing.
“These are not residents of affluent areas like Mont Kiara or Hartamas in the Minister’s own parliamentary constituency,” Ti noted.
“So the question is: is the purpose of this statement to improve housing policy? Or does it indirectly create a negative perception of the poor, whom the PPR programme is supposed to protect?”
A call for empathy
“Ministers need to be more sympathetic and empathetic towards this group and not expose them to public ridicule because they cannot afford their RM124 monthly debt. The people have supported Hannah Yeoh from her time as an Assemblyman to her current role as a Minister. The entire machinery and wealth of DBKL is under her control; it should not be used to retaliate against them with such statements,” he concluded.
What do you think about this? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
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