THE proposed regeneration of the Rifle Range Flats in Padang Tembak should be given food for thought, says Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee.
The Rifle Range Flats came into the limelight recently when an English daily carried a story that hundreds of pigeons were found nesting in some of the 16 abandoned units.
It was reported that the birds had formed colonies in the units after gaining access through broken windows and doors over the years. They were even bird carcasses and droppings.
Ong said when he was elected as the first-term representative for the constituency from 2008 to 2013, he had suggested that the state buy the abandoned units, refurbish them and then rent them out to the lower-income group.
He said such initiative should be relooked into to address any infestation issue.
“This effort can help to assist the needy ones by selling or renting out the vacant units for them at an affordable price.
“Many of them have been facing difficulties to obtain a unit for a long time. With this initiative, they might have the chance to buy or rent the empty units.
“As far as I am concerned, the land price in the state is very expensive nowadays,” Ong told reporters after joining the Lions Club of George Town members to distribute face masks to his constituents in Rifle Range today.
State Housing, Town, Country Planning and Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo had said the Penang government has plans to regenerate five old housing schemes after amending existing laws or enacting new laws.
The schemes are the 5-point block Mahsuri Flats in Bayan Baru, Rifle Range Flats and Taman Free School Flats in Penang island and the Mak Mandian Flats and Jalan Siakap Flats in Seberang Perai.
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had already issued notices to the owners of abandoned units in Rifle Range Flats, instructing them to clear all filth and garbage in their units. If they fail to do so they face a fine of not more than RM1,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months.
On the spread of dengue and Chikugunya cases, Ong said his constituency has seen an improvement.
“In recent times, there were no cases reported in Kebun Bunga,” he said, adding that fogging and cleanup campaigns were carried out frequently.
Earlier, Ong and the Lions Club of George Town members distributed 13,000 face masks to the residents in Rifle Range and its local community.
Its president Vincent Yen said they were pleased to provide the masks to the people with the message of ‘Get Used to the New Normal’.
“It is important to practise good public health by wearing a mask,” he said, adding that they have spent about RM9,000 to purchase the masks.
Also present were D308 B2 district governor Datuk Yeoh Moh Chai and Lions Club member Ricky Khoo (Region 1 chair).
In all, 20 Lions Clubs in the region contributed 40,000 face masks for distribution in their respective areas today.
Story and pix by Edmund Lee