Wan Junaidi (fourth right) explaining the present situation of affordable housing schemes to the victims and other local residents at the site of the houses which have been burnt down. Also seen is Feona (third right).
KUCHING: Uncertainty surrounding the many centrally-funded affordable housing projects under the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government proves to be a hurdle as state elected representatives re-organised and re-strategised their plans.
Santubong member of parliament (MP) Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has frankly told community of Kampung Bintawa Hilir, where two houses have been razed by fire and left 13 people homeless past Wednesday, that he cannot give any promises until the uncertainties are explained.
He was accompanied by wife Datuk Seri Feona to present donations to the fire victims of Kampung Bintawa Hilir here today.
“We will discuss on the next course of action (to help victims affected by disasters) but the problem now is that many state BN government programmes and projects planned previously could get stuck following the change in political climate,” he told reporters.
Wan Junaidi was referring to Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) project and Housing Programme for the Hardcore Poor (PPRT) in which the fire victims could have applied to rebuild their homes.
“Previously we have RMR and PPRT but now we don’t know the status of these projects as we have yet to receive the guidelines by the new federal government,” he said.
He was saddened by the mishaps that befell the three families, more so in this holy fasting month of Ramadhan and that the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive celebration is fast approaching.
“This is a once-a-year celebration in which everybody should be in jovial mood but somehow such incident is unavoidable and we have yet to determine the cause of fire.
“But in this climate, I cannot give promises to the people due to the new federal government and whether PPRT and RMR will be continued or not. If continued and with the allocated quotas, we will help the fire victims apply,” he assured.
Earlier, he had handed over donations of RM1,000 cash each to assist and lessen the burden of the three families affected by the fire disaster.
Firefighters took about 40 minutes to battle the flames that engulfed the two houses at 9pm on Wednesday.
The distance between both houses was about five metres, whereby, one of the affected houses had two sections with two families staying in it.
No injuries and casualties were reported during the incident.