PPR Tiram to house those from flood-prone areas

VILLAGERS of Kampung Sungai Tiram in Jalan Mak Piah, Ulu Tiram are hoping to be offered new People’s Housing Programme (PPR) that are flood-proof.

Farmer Ahmad Kasah said the main cause of flooding in the village was due to lack of proper drainage to divert excess water especially during high tide.

“I have been living here for more than 20 years. Each year, the flooding gets worse.

“Some of the houses’ outer walls have collapsed due to the strong current,” he said.

Ahmad, 67, said his vegetable farm was also destroyed during the recent Jan 7 floods.

Some villagers, he added, had built their own drains, but their efforts were in vain because there were no main drains to divert the high volume of water.

“It becomes like a mini pool. When there’s heavy rainfall during high tide, flooding occurs,” he said.

Azizul (second from left) with Johor state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor (right) during a visit to PPR Tiram.

Security guard Abdul Razak Muhammad, 34, a resident of 16 years, said the government should prioritise moving villagers in flood-prone areas to the new PPR, which was 3km away from Jalan Mak Piah.

“The PPR is located on higher ground, has proper drainage system and is far from the Sungai Tiram.

“This is actually the fourth time that the village has been inundated within two years,” he said, adding that the previous incident was last December.

Abdul Razak is concerned he will not be selected for PPR housing with the policy prioritising families.“This time, it was worse as the water rose very quickly,” he said.

Abdul Razak is also concerned that he will not be selected for PPR housing.

“The government is giving priority to those with families. Although I am single, I am renting the house with my four siblings.”

Tiram assemblyman Azizul Bachok said the Johor Housing Development Corporation (PKPJ) has allocated 500 of the 700 PPR Tiram units for villagers from flood-prone areas in Ulu Tiram.

“The Johor Baru District Office is going to the ground to ensure that priority is given to households that are in high-risk areas or near Sungai Tiram,” he said.

“We have been accepting applications for PPR Tiram since Jan 8. The last day for applications is Feb 9, so we expect the villagers to move out by March.”

He added that the government has planned to relocate all households at flood-prone areas.