KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Poor maintenance, security and lack of comfort would be concerns of the past as authorities initiate measures to address housing woes of the urban poor.

These were among numerous issues raised by residents of public housing in the past and are expected to be addressed by the Federal Territories Ministry when it draws up a blueprint for the people’s housing project.

The concerns and availability of public housing for the urban poor were among issues discussed during a closed-door meeting between the ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s top brass yesterday.

The minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, chaired the meeting and was briefed on the situation of public housing in the city.

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Tengku Adnan could not be reached for comment but a senior City Hall official said the minister wanted various details to be provided.

The details were to be the basis for a master plan which will be drafted on measures to address the urban poor’s housing issue.

These include figures on projected cost of per unit, maintenance and remedial works expenditure.

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Once completed, the ministry would draft a formula to ensure urban poor, especially those who can afford, are able to own a council flat or public housing unit.

“The details are expected to be presented to the minister within the next two weeks,” the official told Malay Mail.

On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced some immediate measures to be implemented by the government to alleviate the burden of the urban poor.

The measures are a zero-deposit hire-purchase scheme for city folk to buy public or council housing and providing shuttle bus service for children living in public housing or council flats to and from school.

At present, 102,076 public housing or council flats has been built, while another 14,081 are still under construction. Plans are under way to develop another 16,473 units.

These units were previously tagged to be sold between RM30,000 and RM35,000 per unit depending on the location, or to be offered at the monthly rental of RM124.

These public housing or council flats are available for city folk earning less than RM2,500 a month, with 63,000 applicants waiting for approval.