Govt waives RM50 monthly instalment for 126 Sg Petani families
SUNGAI PETANI: The government has waived the RM50 monthly instalment that 126 families have been paying after they were relocated to Taman Permatang Katong in Kota Kuala Muda, near here, following the 2004 tsunami.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said yesterday that the families were those whose houses were destroyed or damaged by the tsunami, or came from areas at risk of tsunamis.
“We obtained Federal Government approval to waive the repayment with immediate effect. The repayment period is 20 years, but they do not have to make any more payments.”
He was speaking after the “Jelajah Muafakat Rakyat” meet-the -people programme here.
Resident Ahmad Ramli said it was a huge relief that the government stepped in to help.
“Working as a security guard with a low salary, even a RM50 instalment is heavy for me and I had resort to saving prudently to make payment.
“When the state government announced that it would settle the loan balance, the money could be used for other things, such as paying rent, electricity bill or buying household items.”
Housewife Nur Hana Abu Bakar, 53, said the settlement of housing loans by the government was a welcome news.
“I have been here for over 13 years and during that period, we paid RM50 a month. The menteri besar’s announcement lessens our burden.”