THE Kampung Melayu flats in Air Itam, Penang, are rundown no more. After being repainted at a cost of RM534,525, the two blocks of flats have shed their shabby image.
Eighty
percent of the cost was born by the state government while the balance
was sponsored by the private sector as part of a corporate social
responsibility initiative.
Penang Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said repainting work started last year.
“In 2009, one of the residents here said to me: ‘You’ve been elected a year and yet we do not see any difference’.
“It was very hurtful to hear but it served as a good reminder to me.
Fresh and clean: The newly repainted Kampung Melayu flats in Air Itam
“We took a little time to plan because we wanted to do things properly,” Wong said.
He was speaking during a simple ceremony to mark the completion of the project on Sunday.
He
said that instead of just deciding on the colour scheme, the state
government presented the Community Development and Security Committee
(JKKK) with a colour chart so that the residents themselves could decide
how they wanted the flats to look.
After the painting of the first block was completed, a colouring competition for the children of the residents were held.

“We wanted to know what colours the children wanted for the second block.
“We looked at their art pieces for inspiration.
“With that in mind, we came up with another colour scheme for the JKKK and residents to give their feedback on.
“So today, the flats are in the colours that the residents themselves have chosen,” Wong said.
He added that the Kampung Melayu flats had not been painted in more than a decade.
He
said the state government would continue to focus on the lower-income
group by refurbishing flats like those in Kampung Melayu.
He said
the state government had also allocated an additional RM1,479,109 for
upgrading the lifts and sanitary systems there this year.
“We are now in the midst of replacing some of the lifts,” Wong added