Deepavali Lights To Shine Brightly In New Homes Of Ladang Byram Residents

NIBONG TEBAL, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- This year's Deepavali celebration holds special meaning for the residents of Ladang Byram, as they have received the keys to newly built replacement homes from the Penang government.

The residents were so excited and happy at being able to celebrate the Festival of Lights this year in more comfortable homes than their decades-old previous residence in the Ladang Byram estate.

A resident, S. Malliga, 61, said that after 40 years of living in the estate, she and her husband and four children will celebrate Deepavali in a new house in the resettlement of Ladang Byram, known as Taman Byram Baru, which is much more comfortable and beautiful.

"Of course we are all happy and excited to celebrate the festival in a new house. Thank you to the state government for helping us by providing the house. I can't wait to move in," she told Bernama here today.

The woman was met at the launch of the Byram Estate Resettlement Project here, which was officiated by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and also attended by Nibong Tebal Member of Parliament Fadhlina Sidek, who is also the Minister of Education.

Another recipient of a new house, A. Selvadorai, 48, said he and his wife and four children are eager to move into their new house to celebrate Deepavali there this year, which they hoped would bring them more happiness and joy.

Selvadorai, who could not hide his excitement when met, said that for more than 20 years he and his family had lived in an estate house and thanked all parties, especially the state government, for providing a beautiful and comfortable home to the residents of Ladang Byram.

As for F. Edward Raja, 47, he and his family have made preparations and gone shopping for the Deepavali celebration, which will definitely be celebrated this year with a housewarming party.

"This year's Deepavali will be more meaningful and sweet because we four siblings will celebrate it together in a new house with our mother and father. Our whole family is grateful to the state government for the promised home," he said.

Meanwhile, Chow said the project, which cost RM18.4 million, encompasses the development of 68 terraced houses, a two-storey school building, and a single-storey temple building complete with various basic facilities to meet the needs of the local community.

Chow said the state government had decided to offer replacement housing units to 72 families identified and of that number, 66 families would be placed in Taman Byram Baru while the remaining six will be placed in Taman Kalidonia Indah Phase 2.

He said the Ladang Byram residents, who are mostly of Indian descent, have long faced the deleterious effects of pollution from the Pulau Burung Landfill and that environmental issues not only affected the health of the residents but disrupted the schooling process at the Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Ladang Byram, a national-type primary school.

"Recognising the urgent need for a long-term solution, the state government took proactive steps by allocating 3.52 hectares (8.7 acres) of land in Nibong Tebal through the Chief Minister's Incorporated (CMI) while the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) was appointed as project manager to implement the development," he said.

He said the offer price for intermediate house units is RM42,000 per unit while the price for a corner lot house is set at RM50,000 per unit and to assist home ownership, the state government has introduced the "Rent-to-Own" (RTO) scheme, which is rent with the option to own at a low monthly payment of RM200.

According to him, beyond housing, the state government has also emphasised community and religious development and hence as a gesture of concern, it decided to offer two housing units, one comer lot and one intermediate unit, to the Chapel Association to be used as a place of worship, at a nominal rate as symbolic support to the Christian community.

"The new school building will also be handed over to SJKT Ladang Byram board of governors. This is another commitment by the state to ensure that children here enjoy quality education in a more conducive, safe and comfortable environment," he said.

-- BERNAMA