PBR recipient puzzled house not completed

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HOPING: Three of John’s children sit on the staircase of their new incomplete house.

John Casely Henry

SIBU: A cement-mixer lorry driver John Casely Henry and his family are still putting up at a temporary shelter five years after their house was destroyed by fire.

His application for a new house under the Housing Assistance Programme (PBR), formerly known as Housing Assistance Programme for the Poor (PPRT), was approved in 2010.

Construction of the house, which was to sit on a piece of land inherited from his late father in Kampung Seduan Jaya, Mile 6 Ulu Oya Road here, started in August last year.

Four months later, the contractor who was appointed by the government stopped all works.

“Initially, I thought we could celebrate Gawai Dayak this year at our new home but that has not happened,” said John.

John, 44, has six children aged between six and 18. His wife, Ringayan Judat, is a fulltime housewife.

He said after the fire, he constructed a temporary shelter on the same spot while waiting for PBR application to be approved.

He was confident that the PBR project costing RM40,000 would be completed within a few months after construction began.

After the works stopped, he said he had gone to the authorities several times to inquire why.

“I was told many times by the staff that it was the decision of contractor whether to finish the construction or not.

“The house is without a bathroom, toilet, window panes, ceiling, kitchen walls, electric and water supply,” he added.

John said he has contacted the contractor but the answer given was not one to his satisfaction.

He hoped that the authorities would help him to resolve the problem.