Squatter houses in the area of Johor Bahru

Abstract

Even though Malaysia is a developing country, it also experienced the problems of squatter houses. The construction of these houses has sprouted like mushrooms. However, are the squatter houses houses safe to be occupied? From the initial survey, it was found that the squatter houses are built not conforming to the Building by-laws. Some of the buildings will pose danger to the residents. Therefore the aim of this study is to explore the problems of the squatter houses and steps to taken by the authorities to achieve Zero Squatter’s area. The objectives of this study are to study the requirement of the building by-law of the existing squatter area, to evaluate the problems faced by the residents of the squatter houses, to evaluate the reasons given by the residents regarding on relocating them and to identify the steps taken by authorities in order to achieve Zero Squatter’s Areas. The study is carried out in Kempas, Johor Bahru. The study is conducted through questionnaires, interviews and on site visit. A total of 94 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents and 57 questionnaires were returned duly answered. The data is analysed using the average index. From the study, it is found that there is no the requirement of the building by-law for squatter area since it is illegal housing area. The problems faced by the residents of squatter houses are the distance between one building to another is too close, therefore the risk of exposed to fire is very high. The area does not have an appropriate garbage can, i.e. garbage disposal. Other problems are social problems among teenagers and sewerage system difficult to pump out. The reasons given by the residents of squatter regarding on relocating the residents are the size of the house provided by the government is small; the location of the house is far away from the working places and the government providing a high-rise housing type to the squatters. i.e: PPR. Meanwhile high-rise housing is not suitable for senior citizens. The steps taken by the authorities to achieve Zero Squatter Area are providing the squatters with more PPR (Projek Perumahan Rakyat), providing more low-cost flats with soft housing loan offered and providing more low-cost housing and considering of giving Temporary Occupation License (TOL) to the squatters