Malaysia's legal system safeguards the identities of minor defendants, as demonstrated in the ongoing bullying case involving Zara Qairina.

In recent news, the People's Housing Programme (PPR) has been under the spotlight, with concerns arising about eviction notices and the fairness of the allocation process. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, has addressed these concerns, assuring that the ongoing PPR whitening exercise by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency.

PPR homes, a major government subsidy, have been instrumental in helping B40 families live more comfortably in the capital city. However, the long-standing issue of arrears in PPR and DBKL public housing has become a pressing concern. The whitening process, enforced by DBKL, aims to rectify this by enforcing eligibility conditions for tenants.

DBKL has set specific eligibility conditions for PPR tenants, including being a married Malaysian citizen couple, having a household income not exceeding RM3,000 for low-cost and RM4,000 for medium-cost units. Tenants must also not own any property or land within 35 kilometers of the city center, hold the status of widow, widower, single parent, live or work in Kuala Lumpur, and be registered with DBKL.

Out of the 3,379 tenants reviewed, 3,031 tenants or 89.7% remain eligible and can continue renting. Unfortunately, 348 tenants or 10.3% failed to have their leases renewed due to violations such as high rental arrears, household income exceeding eligibility limits, owning property within 35 km of Kuala Lumpur, non-citizen status of spouses, and not residing in the PPR unit.

For tenants affected by the PPR whitening exercise and wishing to appeal, they can do so within 30 days. DBKL is ready to negotiate instalment rates and schedules for tenants facing rental arrears, providing a chance for them to continue staying in the PPR homes under the agreed-upon terms.

Vacant units resulting from the whitening exercise will be reassigned to applicants with the greatest need. The Madani government has inherited a big challenge in ensuring that PPR facilities truly reach those who are in need. Current arrears for PPR and DBKL public housing have reached up to RM70 million, a figure that underscores the urgency of addressing this issue boldly.

Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, in a recent Facebook post, reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring that genuinely eligible B40 households will not be affected by the PPR whitening exercise. The search results do not provide information about the name of the minister who set the eligibility criteria for tenants of PPR units, but the government's actions speak volumes about their commitment to fairness and transparency in the allocation of PPR facilities.

In conclusion, the PPR whitening exercise is a necessary step towards ensuring that PPR homes, a major government subsidy, truly reach those who need them the most. The government's approach is fair, transparent, and aimed at ensuring a more comfortable living for B40 families in the capital city.