KUALA LUMPUR: The federal government is confident that 133 units of the new permanent houses (RKB) will be handed over to flood victims across the country before Aidilfitri.
To date, 546 RKB units are under construction and 34 units have been completed, according to a statement by the Post-Flood Recovery Unit (UPPB), Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), here, yesterday.
It pointed out that the government was committed to its promise to build a total of 1,415 units of RKB for flood victims nationwide.
“The government is concerned about the difficulties faced by flood victims who are staying in tents while waiting for completion of the new houses, especially in Gua Musang, Kelantan.
“Hence, the transferring of the victims to the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) Ethnobotany Camp is carried worked out in stages and is expected to be completed before Ramadan,” it said.
The statement was issued to clarify allegation by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang that the federal government had failed to keep its promise to build houses for the Kelantan flood victims.
UPPB also refuted Lim’s allegation that the federal government was doing nothing while the victims were still living in tents.
“In order to expedite the construction period, the new houses will be built under the Industrialised Building System (IBS) and Modular which enables a house to be completed in 30 days compared with 75 days, if implemented conventionally,” it said.
The statement said that the federal government remained committed to its promise despite various constraints including finding suitable land to accommodate 835 victims.
However, with the cooperation from the state government and other options, the federal government was confident that such issues could be resolved promptly. — Bernama