PSM man to make affordable housing top priority if elected

SEMENYIH POLLS | Parti Sosialis Malaysia candidate for Semenyih Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul launched his manifesto today, promising affordable housing and grassroots democracy if elected.

“We wish to address problems faced by the local community, based on our own experience of living here and our research,” said Nik at a press conference at the PSM Semenyih office today.

He decried the so-called “affordable housing” projects in Semenyih as being unaffordable for locals.

“The pricing of many luxurious houses here doesn’t make sense, and they can’t be sold for years. The younger generation in Semenyih can’t afford to buy these luxurious houses with the price of RM300,000 to RM600,000. Thus those intending to stay here long-term are forced to rent.”

Nik Aziz suggested a quota system to limit luxurious houses in every housing area, reversing the current quota system for low-cost houses.

He also called for a needs-based housing policy to help the underprivileged, instead of a race-based quota, saying that only those with existing wealth capital benefit from the Bumiputra-quota housing policy.

Nik Aziz will face off against BN's Zakaria Hanafi, Pakatan Harapan's Muhammad Aiman Zainali and independent candidate Kuan Chee Heng in the polls on March 2.

The main points of Nik Aziz’s manifesto are as follows:

1) More affordable housing for locals. The Government should tighten the housing development rules of private developers to control housing prices, limit the proportion of luxury housing, and ensure that each housing project must include low-cost housing and medium-priced housing. In addition, 30% of the business licenses for every residential area must be issued to local residents.

2) To improve the healthcare system. There is no hospital in Semenyih and the locals are relying on hospitals in Kajang, Serdang and Seremban. PSM called for the upgrading of local clinics to become hospitals and to set up an ambulance centre. In addition, the party suggested free transportation to the hospital for senior citizens.

3) To improve the public transport system. There are many tolls along the roads that enter Semenyih and the KTM and MRT systems are not connected. PSM suggested abolishing one of the tolls, and to start a feeder bus service to the Kajang MRT Station, as well as bus services from Semenyih to Seremban, Beranang to Putrajaya, and Bukit Mahkota or Sri Putra to Kajang.

4) Reinstating Form Six education as there is no school in Semenyih providing Form Six classes for now.

5) The restoration of local elections in city councils, villages and residential areas.

6) The local government should take over the management of low-cost flats and cancel the maintenance fees for the residents living there. The residents would only need to pay the yearly assessment.

7) To preserve Broga Hill as a protected environmental and recreation area with regulations governing development in the area.