Happy days ahead for residents

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AFTER making three appeals in three years, Song For Kew can finally afford to pay the land premium for her house, thanks to a huge discount provided by the state government.

The 50-year-old Aston Settlement resident expressed joy after being informed that the land premium for her house was reduced by 80%.

“We have been seeking MCA’s help to appeal for a higher discount,” said the owner of the house whose 25-year lease expired six years ago.

Going with the times: Many houses in the Aston Settlement have either been rebuilt or renovated.

Yip Wan Kai, 56, came all the way from Kuala Lumpur to receive the Form 5A which is a letter notifying residents that their land revenue was due including the amount due.

“Though we no longer live here, the house still has lots of childhood memories,” he said, adding that he and his family would come back once in a while for a visit.

Ujagar Singh, 51, was also relieved that he could now pay the premium for his “priced possession”.

The security guard said all his seven family members had lived in the house located on the Second Avenue for 10 years.

An officer from the land office, who wished to remain anonymous, said the average premium had been reduced to about RM2,000.

Kampar MP Datuk Lee Chee Leong distributed the Form 5A to about 150 owners of the Aston Settlement houses at Kampar Basketball Court on Oct 28.

Also present at the event was Gopeng Barisan Nasional Coordinator Albert Chang Chun Chuen, Kampar OCPD Supt Abdul Aziz Salleh, Kampar District Officer Ismail Hassan, Aston Settlement village chief Wong Hin Huat and Kampar Municipal Councillor Ching Suet Ling.

Lee said in 2008 residents were given a 60-year lease and 10% discount on the land premium.

“But we made several appeals to the state government through the land office to seek a higher discount rate,” he said, adding that he was satisfied with the outcome now.

He said the lease had also been extended to 99 years.

Keranji Barisan Nasional Coordinator Chang Gwo Chyang reminded residents to make pay ment within the next three months in order to legally obtain their land titles.

“A date and venue will be fixed for officers from the land office to collect the payment,” he said, adding that residents would soon be informed.

Some houses in the settlement has over 100 years of history, added Chang.