The Ministry of Local Government Development has pledged to take decisive action against property owners who rent out cramped and hazardous living spaces. Minister Nga Kor Ming stated that, initially, warnings would be issued to owners who violated regulations by renovating their properties without local authority approval.
The rented premises in question pose serious risks to tenants, including fire hazards and mental health concerns. Nga emphasized that premises owners would be given an opportunity to comply with the law. However, if they failed to do so, the ministry would not hesitate to take strong action under Section 79 of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133).
This comes in response to a recent report highlighting a shophouse in the Klang Valley that had transformed its top floor into 38 extremely small rooms, each measuring just 3.25 square meters and emitting an unpleasant odor. Rents for these rooms started at RM300.
Additionally, Nga announced that the construction of the Pasir Pinji temporary market, which began on September 5, received an allocation of RM1.54 million. The Ministry contributed RM1 million, with the remaining RM540,000 shared by the Ipoh City Council. This project is scheduled for completion in February, with the relocation of 178 existing traders from the Pasir Pinji Market to the temporary market starting in March. The Pasir Pinji Market, which is over 50 years old, will undergo a complete rebuild and is expected to be fully operational by March 2026.
