(Sept 28): Kepong community centre head Yee Poh Ping is urging those who have made payments for units at the new Kepong low-cost people’s housing project (PPR), near Jinjang Utara Longhouses, to get their money back from the middlemen and agents as the units are not for sale.

“We had a meeting with City Hall on plans for the PPR and they are not for sale, according to City Hall,” he said.

Yee said the meeting was held on Sept 15 and chaired by City Hall socio-economic executive director Datuk Normah Malik.

“They told us that all 1,600 units were not for sale and would only be rented out by City Hall. However, the buyers had appealed for them to be sold. City Hall will take a month to appeal and we will see what happens then,” he said.

Yee said those who had made payments ranging from RM10,000 to RM40,000 needed to get their money back or make police reports.

“They need to contact these middlemen immediately to get their money back. These middlemen and agents are obviously pulling a scam,” he said.

The Malaysian Insider previously reported Kepong residents’ claims that they had been conned into paying a fee to dubious middlemen and estate agents to secure units at the PPR project near the Jinjang Utara Longhouses.

Yee had said that 15 residents had paid the fee.

“These middlemen claim to have connections in the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) as well as City Hall. In the ads they distribute in Kepong, they say that each unit costs RM88,000,” he said, adding that checks with City Hall had since proved that the ads were false.

He said that the Federal Territories Ministry and City Hall needed to be transparent with application procedures for affordable housing to prevent estate agents from taking advantage of house buyers.

“There are agents who are asking house buyers to pay RM15,000 up front if they want to purchase a unit. Why should they pay when they can do it for free online?” he said in regards to the development of affordable high-rise apartments in Taman Metropolitan, Kepong.

Yee said both the Federal Territories Ministry and City Hall needed to explain why agents were asking for RM15,000. He also urged them to come up with a better application process.

“Agents from the developer are supposed to help the buyer with the application to buy a house and to check if the buyer meets the requirements. City Hall will draw lots to determine who will get to the units,” he said.

Yee said it was not fair of them to ask for payment as not all could afford to pay RM15,000 and there was the question of whether  went to those who paid.

“I went there to check myself. They give you the form to fill, but you need to pay the RM15,000 or they won’t help you. They say the money will be used in the downpayment if the application is successful and if it is not, it will be refunded. But when will they make the refund?” he said.

Yong Pao Foot, 49, said he was confused as to why the agents were asking for upfront payment of RM15,000 for affordable housing.

“I was interested but when they said that in order for me to apply, I would need to pay RM15,000 first, I was shocked. I thought the project was by City Hall and they would be drawing lots for it,” he said.

Yong said he decided not to pay in the end.

“I will just go online to apply. I think it is not fair if they are drawing lots to ask for RM15,000. Some of us will have trouble coming up with the money. Isn’t affordable housing about helping those who cannot afford houses elsewhere?” he said. – The Malaysian Insider