Government urged to appoint dedicated company to oversee lifts in PPRs

A COORDINATED effort is needed to maintain infrastructure such as lifts in government- owned buildings especially People’s Housing Programme (PPR) to reduce down time of these facilities.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said having a dedicated company or an appointed contractor of high quality that would be directly overseen by the government would help resolve the issue that plagued residents in such housing schemes.

“The number of lifts in PPRs not just in Kuala Lumpur, but the whole country, is considerable.

“I hope the government will look into this,” said Lim, who pointed out that this could also apply to other government-owned buildings.

“We commonly hear about PPR lifts breaking down all around the country and in many cases, it is the lack of spare parts that causes down time.

“So why has the availability of spare parts to repair lifts not been made a priority?”

“It makes sense to have a company that is able to maintain the lifts to a high standard,” he said, after a press conference at Pekan Kepong PPR to announce the replacement of lifts there.

The RM4.7mil allocated by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will see all nine lifts replaced with new ones. It is expected to be completed in May 2025.

Pekan Kepong PPR Residents Committee chairman Mohd Hizam Yeop Omar said faulty lifts were almost a daily problem.

“In the past three years, residents in the three blocks have had to live with the fear of lifts breaking down,” he said, adding that the new lifts would be a relief for the 13 disabled and 337 elderly residents there.

Committee secretary Mohd Razuan Abd Rahman said malfunctions in the morning and evening when residents leave and return from work were especially stressful.

“Having an on-site technician here now is a good temporary solution until the new lifts are installed as he is also carrying out preventive maintenance.”

Federal Territories Residents Representative Council (MPPWP) Sub Zone 1 chairman Chay Weng Teong said the new lifts would have CCTV cameras installed.