KLANG, 21 Mar: The State Government managed to resolve the problematic housing project for 76 former plantation workers in Bandar Bukit Raja here by building terraced houses worth RM77,000 in a nearby area.
The construction of the housing project is developed in collaboration with property owners, Sime Darby Property Berhad (Sime Darby) and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Exco, Dr Xavier Jayakumar said that the agreement was reached between the State Government and Sime Darby for the construction of the housing project.
Previously, 76 of the former employees demanded terraced houses from their employers because the original home promised to them was not appropriate.
The group eventually has to bring their case to court.
“This house is sold to former plantation workers at a price of RM70,000, a discount of RM7,000 from the original price of RM77,000. For your information, the actual market price is RM250,000.
“Even though there were problems at first, including a court case, but this can be resolved and all 76 former plantation workers will own their own home.
“All of them have also already chosen a lot number to be occupied,” he said after a visit to the construction site in Bandar Bukit Raja here today.
For the elderly former plantation workers, he added that the State Government allows them to designate successors in the agreement to obtain loans from financial institutions.
He said that the project is one of the Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) from Sime Darby.
“Sime Darby is also providing an area for a playground and a hall in this area.
“Within these five years we have solved many cases like this in other areas such as in Semenyih and Kajang,” he said.