WELL DONE: Abang Johari (back row, fourth left), Abdul Karim (back row, third left) and others with the winners.
MIRI: The federal government has allocated RM600 million to implement a housing development in the state next year.
Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said out of the total amount, some RM100 million would be for a people-friendly housing scheme.
“Sarawak has received the biggest allocation from the federal government for the implementation of housing development in the state next year,” he said when closing the state-level Inter-Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Al-Qural Recital cum prize presentation at Darul Ehsan Mosque, Piasau Jaya Phase 1 last Friday.
Abang Johari said his ministry planned to build more houses in Miri and Lambir.
For Miri, more than 800 houses would be developed under a new housing scheme next year.
Out of that, 500 units were for Lambir area while the remaining 314 new houses were for Permyjaya New township.
Following the population increase in Permyjaya, the ministry is to build a market for the people there.
“It’s not an easy task to develop a new housing estate as it involves high financial cost. However, nothing is impossible if the people can work with the government.”
On an unrelated issue, he expressed his concern on the need to develop a neighbourhood spirit in urban residential areas particularly to reduce social problems.
The ministry has to ensure that housing schemes come with basic social facilities like for recreation, community hall and places of worship.
At the function, he presented RM20,000 in Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant to Darul Ehsan Mosque serving Piasau Jaya Phase 1.
Among those present were Housing Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah who is advisor to the organising committee, Datuk Dr Abang Abdul Rauf Abang Haji Zain who is chairman of HDC, joint organising chairmen Wan Yusop Wan Moss and Datuk Wan Morsidi Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Darul Ehsan Mosque chairman.