Petaling Jaya Utara parliamentarian Tony Pua has called on the state government and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), to thoroughly investigate present and former MBPJ officials and the state government over the low-cost flat issue.

NONE Pua ( right ) has also asked the state government to determine the veracity of claims that the state government, under former chief minister Mohd Khir Toyo, had encouraged government servants, other than those in the lower income bracket, to buy low-cost homes as an incentive in 2001.

In a statement released today, Pua has also stressed the seriousness of the problem, indicating that more than 500 of the displaced urban poor had been unable to secure a low-cost unit, mainly because they were taken by MBPJ officials.

Pua, who is also the DAP national publicity secretary, said that the Petaling Jaya Utara party offices have been receiving many complaints from the former squatters who were unable to obtain low-cost units meant for them.

He also called upon the MACC to prove its relevance, investigate this abuse and prosecute those involved.

Having said that, he also urged the state government to compile a list of eligible buyers of the low-cost flats and ensure that the rights to these flats are returned to them.

According to the Sun report today, the sale of low-cost units is restricted to those with a household income of not more than RM2,500.

Executive councillor in charge of poverty eradication Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, has also confirmed that ‘the state government's policy on first-time ownership of low-cost units has not changed, and any exemption by the housing department must be sanctioned by the Exco'.

The problem was first raised by MBPJ councillor K W Mak after receiving complaints from former squatters who were promised low-cost units but never received offers once they were completed.