PUTATAN: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has assured that all houses under the Housing Programme for the Hardcore Poor (PPRT) in Sabah for this year will be completed in the same year.
Speaking to reporters after visiting and handing over keys to the owners of three PPRT houses at Kampung Muhibbah near here yesterday, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that his ministry together with the Sabah government had established a joint committee to oversee PPRT projects to ensure they are not delayed.
“We will monitor their development,” he said.
Altogether about RM271.6 million has been allocated for the construction of PPRT in the country for this year. The allocation will go towards the construction of 608 new houses and 5,521 houses that require repairs.
The allocation for Sabah’s PPRT this year is RM65,998,800.
He said the sum would go towards constructing 252 new PPRT houses (costing RM17,110,800) and the repairs of 3,259 houses (costing RM48,888,000).
A total of 16,547 people are expected to benefit from the assistance.
Ismail also mentioned that between 2014 and 2017, a total of 3,936 of PPRT houses were built while 8,616 houses underwent repairs. The allocation for the projects undertaken was RM321,492,000. And a total of 43,080 people benefitted from the projects.
He also said that under the Putatan constituency, a total of 19 PPRT houses had already been completed.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Ismail expressed his happiness that the three owners of the PPRT houses at Kampung Muhibbah finally had their houses ready.
The 668-square-foot houses come with three rooms and a bathroom and is estimated to cost about RM68,000.
“This is the government’s promise to the people, particularly the rural folks,” he said.
He also said for development, both Sabah and Sarawak had received 52 percent of the Federal allocation while Peninsular Malaysia was only given 47 percent in allocation, which was also shared by 11 states.
“That means that it is not true that the Federal Government and Barisan Nasional (BN) do not care about Sabah,” he said.
He further added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Sabah had been given a huge allocation for development.
“So do not listen to stories and lies from the opposition. There are still a lot of projects to be undertaken, but in order for the programmes to be implemented, the present government must continue to rule. We must ensure that Sabah continues to be under BN,” he said.
He added that the election was forthcoming soon, perhaps two months from now.
The three families who benefitted from the PPRT programme at Kampung Muhibbah are Alifah @ Yam Harsat, Harsat Sait and Tinah @ Juriah Harsat.
Their previous houses had been ravaged by fire in 2017, said Alifah when approached by reporters.
“Construction for our new house began in October, last year and took merely three months to complete. It was very fast. My family and I are indebted to the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and the Barisan Nasional for their assistance,” she said.
She added that for an entire year, her parents lived at the community hall at Kampung Muhibbah.
“Now we can start setting up the house and eventually move in.”