The Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry has issued offer letters to 114 families in Kampung Railway, Sentul, which ensure that they will only have to move out temporarily and will be able to return to live in the area in three years.

Its deputy minister, M Saravanan, said the offer letters were issued to ensure that the residents could move into the Intan Baiduri and Bukit Jalil People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats to make way for the construction of shoplots, offices, commercial podium and low-cost houses by Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd (SRSB) in the area.

He said according to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) census, there were 114 squatters (families) currently residing on the proposed site for the project, with 33 of the families residing on Lot 201 (DBKL-owned land), 11 families on Lot 202 and 70 families on Lot 208 (SRSB-owned land).

“The offer letters were issued to those residing on the proposed site for the projects. Aware of the problems faced by the residents, DBKL has also instructed SRSB to build 150 low-cost houses for the residents on the DBKL-owned land,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said the project would begin very soon and would take about three years to be completed with each low-cost house having a market price of up to RM90,000.

“I have also asked for the houses to be sold to the residents at a price of RM45,000 each, and they have agreed. Financial aid will also be given to eligible residents,” the deputy minister said.

Saravanan said this was also a good opportunity for the residents, especially the Indian community, to own a property with a minimum cost, thanks to the financial aid provided by the government.

Prior to this, it was reported that 70 residents from Kampung Railway had staged a protest against the development project in the area, especially the construction of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) quarters and low-cost houses.

- Bernama