Residents affected by eviction notices at PPR Taman Manggis have been given sufficient time to secure alternative accommodation after being found to no longer meet the eligibility requirements for public housing.

Penang Housing and Environment Committee chairman Dato’ Seri S. Sundarajoo said eviction notices were initially issued in March, giving affected residents three months to vacate their units. Extensions were subsequently considered for those who requested additional time due to difficulties in finding new homes.

He said the state government had also offered two affected residents alternative units under the Rent-to-Own (RTO) scheme, which they had accepted.

“We have given them time, but the additional period cannot continue for another three or 30 years,” he said at a press conference in Komtar.

Sundarajoo said the Penang Housing Board (LPNPP) had taken a considerate approach by offering suitable RTO units based on family size, including one-, two- and three-bedroom homes.

Under the scheme, residents would have the opportunity to purchase their homes after renting them for two to three years.

He stressed that public housing units provided by the state government must be allocated to those who genuinely qualify and need them, particularly as many families are still without permanent accommodation.

According to Sundarajoo, some families have even had to rely on temporary transit centres while waiting for more suitable housing.

He also rejected claims that the state government was being harsh or insensitive towards residents ordered to vacate their units, saying the action followed eligibility checks and was necessary to ensure public housing remained available to the intended target group.

Meanwhile, Sundarajoo said some units at Taman Manggis had undergone extensive renovations, with certain homes fitted with air-conditioning, ceilings and other improvements that made them resemble condominium units.

He said such cases could indicate that some residents were taking advantage of housing intended for lower-income households.

LPNPP is currently conducting a screening and verification exercise involving residents suspected of no longer meeting the eligibility criteria. Of the cases being reviewed, 19 cases have been acted upon in the initial phase, while about 103 others remain under review.

Several PPR Taman Manggis units were sealed in early September following the identification of occupants who were believed to no longer qualify to live in the public housing units.

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