'Reimburse our RM8 million first before taking over Selangor's PPR' - State exco

The Selangor state government is ready to the task of managing the People's Housing Project (PPR) to the federal government, but the latter has to first reimburse the RM8 million the state government had spent.

That was the ultimatum given by the Selangor Exco for Housing, Building Management and Urban Settlement Datuk Iskandar Abdul Samad.

"This is not a new issue, even from last year this has been discussed by the Housing, Urban Well-Being and Local Government Ministry and the National Housing Council, not just relating to Selangor but nationwide.

"Sure, we can the management of PPRs to the federal government, but reimburse the RM8 million that we've spent first. No problem," he told reporters at an Aidilfitri do with civil servants here on Wednesday.

Iskandar said of the RM8 million, RM3 million went to fixing the lifts and water pumps of the PPRs in 2012.

Iskandar was responding to Housing, Urban Well-Being and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar's statement on Tuesday that he would request for the federal government to take over the management of 'problematic' PPRs in Selangor.

had said the management of PPRs in the state had deteriorated since the Opposition took over Selangor, because they were 'too busy politicking rather than caring for the welfare'.

Iskandar said , who is also Selangor UMNO liaison committee chairman, was trying to be a 'hero' by the PPR issue in the state.

"This new minister is trying to be a hero. It's regrettable because ministers shouldn't be caring for the welfare instead.

"If says the Selangor government has enough money PPR rent, that's wrong. Rent money from PPRs is far from enough to cover the maintenance cost."

Furthermore, Iskandar said the current state government a lot on their plate has they had to deal with many of the past Barisan Nasional's 'abandoned' projects. He said the state government has spent millions of to revive and complete 64 of such projects.

However, he said he was ready to sit and discuss with the minister in resolving the PPR issue.

"Unlike the previous minister (Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan) who was easy to work with, this new minister is 100 percent politics. needs to repent," Iskandar added.