Life grinds on under the shadow of poverty

By Ken Vin Lek and Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

FMT FOCUS PETALING JAYA: Poverty is a beast that lurks in the shadows of every city. Its face is mostly hidden somewhere on the the city's periphery where it can be forgotten with ease. In Selangor, that beast lives in the Putra Damai flats in the vicinity of Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

The flats are the product of the zero squatter policy, a brainchild of Dr Khir Toyo during his tenure as Selangor menteri besar, and fall under the government-initiated Housing Project for the Extremely Poor (PPRT).

Putra Damai was meant as a two-year transit home for those who were relocated there from the squatter areas of Kampung Penaga, Damansara Dalam, Klang Lama and Kampung Lindungan. But two years stretched to 10 and the site now houses the largest concentration of low-income families in Selangor.

The residents there draw a monthly salary of less than RM2,500, of which RM250 goes for rent. Those earning less than RM1,500 qualify for a lower rent of RM124. None of the units are available for purchase now, but the National Housing Department under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government has plans to enable individuals to purchase it within a year or two.

The blocks are numbered alphabetically ranging from A to H, with 392 units respectively. Each block has its own head of block and committee members which are elected by the residents.

While Blocks A to F are huddled together, the last two sit together in isolation. And this separation has allowed it to shape its own culture and mindset.

A model community

Walking along the corridor of Block G, one can't help but notice the odour emanating from the drains, the crudely patched-up cracks on the walls and random patches of peeled paint.

But what is also noticeable are the makeshift sundry shops along the corridor, the working pay phones and the absence of trash on the ground.

“We're slightly different from the other blocks,” says Mazlan Mat Yunos (photo), the head of Block H, with a slight smile. “There is more integration, respect and open-mindedness here. But that doesn't mean we're better than the other residents. We just get along better.”

Mazlan, who is also the head of the Umno branch in Sungai Way, has been living in Putra Damai for nine years and was elected as head this year. His multiracial committee consist of 32 people.

“Although Malays make up 80% of the residents here, we have a multiracial committee,” he said. “A multiracial community needs multiracial leaders. Isn't that what 1Malaysia is supposed to be about?”

According to Mazlan, the head and committee members are elected once every two years and are responsible for organising regular community activities. To date, his team has organised donation campaigns for single mothers and the disabled, karaoke sessions for the youths and cultural ceremonies to ensure that tradition doesn't die in the city.

When FMT came calling one Saturday morning, a tuition programme was in full swing. Organised by a local church group three years ago, the volunteers were tutoring primary schoolchildren in various subjects. Attendance was low that particular day but, according to Mazlan, about 30 children usually show up each weekend.

“Most of them are Indian children but there are a few Malays as well,” he said. “It doesn't matter that it's a church initiative. Only the rich city people turn good intentions into religious issues. Over here, we don't discriminate against any helping hands. Our top priority is the people. If we make room for political or religious intolerance, then we're the ones who will suffer.”

This little speech evoked a loud chorus of approval from other residents listening in on the conversation. A clear indication that Mazlan's attitude is reflective of the community there.

The fingerprints of poverty

It's easy to get carried away by the community's positive vibes, but Mazlan is having none of that. With the same ease as he described the bright spots so did he point out the dark ones.

“The fans are not working and the toilet is a disgrace,” he said, gesturing to the small community hall. “Many individuals from various political parties have promised to get them fixed but nothing has been done yet.”

“No, I'm not going to say which political party because it doesn't matter. But I will say that being an Umno member has not stopped me from working alongside opposition party members and vice- versa.”

But politics is far from his mind. He is more concerned with some of the pressing problems plaguing the community.

“We need a proper playground for the youths,” he said, glancing at the small patch of grass in the middle of the carpark. “They have to play football around the community hall and we've lost a few windows. We've had a few dengue cases here too, so frequent fogging would be good.”

Zulkifli Abdullah, the Block G supervisor, however, claimed that there has been a huge difference since he took over two years ago.

“I don't think it had anything to do with me specifically,” he laughed. “The residents elected leaders who cared about the community. Before this, drug-related issues, motorcycle thefts and vandalism were rampant. Now the Rukun Tetangga works together with the heads of blocks and committee members to keep the area safe.”

The biggest thorn in his side though is the perpetually faulty lifts. He complained that at any given time, only two of the three lifts work due mainly to outsiders stealing the steel coils.

“It's a huge problem especially during rush-hour time,” he said. “There was once when a man returned from hospital and had to be carried up 17 flights of stairs. And then of course no one wants to stay on the upper floors.”

Another major problem is the lack of proper parking bays for both cars and motorcycles. Each family owns one car and there are only 100 parking bays. Double parking is common but the residents have devised a clever system to keep tempers from flaring.

“All those who double park leave the hand brake down so the driver of the blocked car just has to push the other car away,” Zulkifli (left) chuckled.

Mazlan, on the other hand, is more concerned about the motorcycles which lack a designated parking spot.

“Most of the time the bikes are parked around the community hall,” he said. “But many have to be parked in the corridors or further down the road which leaves them open to theft. It's a serious problem.”

The other problem that exasperates Zulkifli are the electrical wiring and the metal water tubes that have been ripped from the walls of the upper floors to be resold for a quick buck. Both he and Mazlan insisted, however, that the troublemakers are outsiders and very rarely the residents themselves.

A ray of hope

Life isn't a bed of roses for the residents of Putra Damai but they are far from bemoaning their fate. There is a ray of hope that someday things will brighten up and already there is a stirring of a promising start in the shape of a project to help alleviate their harsh conditions.

The community residing in Block G and H has been chosen for an urban poverty eradication project headed by Kota Damansara assemblyman and Socialist Party of Malaysia chairman Dr Nasir Hashim.

The project aims to eradicate poverty through empowerment and its success will be used as a model for the other blocks. Both Mazlan and Zulkifli are cautiously excited and quietly proud over this prospect.

“Nasir has already visited to learn about our needs instead of telling us what we need,” Mazlan smiled. “It's a good start.”