NEW HOME: Rusdi (right), a PBR beneficiary, happily receives a certificate of ownership to his new PBR house from Zaki.
SERIAN: A total of RM3.9 million will be allocated for the continuation of the Program Bantuan Rumah (Housing Aid Programme) project in Serian this year as the government continues its effort to provide better housing for the rural poor.
The allocation would cater to the building of around 50 new homes and repair works (rebuilding) to some 120 existing houses of those from the hardcore poor. Those who are deserving of this government initiative do not have to worry on missing out as Rural Development Ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Chaiti Bolhassan, who announced this yesterday, said the figure would be revised according to needs for more houses under the Program Bantuan Rumah (PBR).
“Since the programme’s launch until December last year, a total of 22,550 houses have been rebuilt (nationwide), costing RM408 million. The government is very committed to increase the living standard of the people.
“Now, it is the responsibility of each individual to ensure that those who qualified for this assistance are registered with the e-kasih (government programme to help the poor),” he added when delivering his speech at the PBR houses presentation ceremony at the community hall here.
A total of 29 families officially received the keys to their new (PBR) homes at the event.Also present were the army’s 1 Division Infantry (Sabah and Sarawak) Commander Maj-Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar , PBR project director Col Abdullah Mansoor and Serian district officer Sinde Muling.
Chaiti also praised the army for playing a very important role to ensure the success of the project implementation. He mentioned that the army had been very effective in completing the project within a limited time of only six months.
“The impressive feat can be deemed a new personal record for the government. The army’s record achievement in helping the rural people has been very impressive. The building of Bailey bridges can justify it as the army is always at the forefront.
“The army has the capacity and expertise in this field apart from defending the country,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Zaki who also spoke at the event, stated that a total of 406 PBR houses had been built last year for Sabah-Sarawak. A total of 376 were built throughout the state in four main districts of Serian, Kanowit, Sarikei and Betong.
“In Serian alone, a total of 29 new houses were built while a further four went through repairs and renovation, covering 22 villagers.
“The project, which only started in the East Malaysian states in July, managed to be completed within six months,” he highlighted. Commending the army for its involvement in the programme, Zaki said that the project would bring the army closer to the people.
He mentioned that the army’s presence would be strongly felt by the people not only as protector of the country, but also its service to the community to increase the standard of living of the people.
Earlier in the day, Zaki visited the families of Wira Nuji at Kampung Sg Bari, Nurdi Rodsock and Asmadi Lakimin of Kampung Sg Menaul here to present them with a symbolic key to their houses.
The 1 Division’s involvement in the project started on Jan 19 last year through the National Blue Ocean Strategy 3 (NBOS3) programme launched by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak through the National Strategy Executive Summit on Nov 30, 2010.