No sign of inhabitants at ‘Borneo Blitz Build’ project homes
KUCHING: Homes built under a record-breaking housing project for the poor initiated by Habitat for Humanity Malaysia named ‘ Borneo Blitz Build’ at Jalan Stephen Yong here that were completed two years ago are currently uninhabited.
The project was lauded by Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah as the first and largest residential construction commissioned by the nongovernmental organisation in the country.
The record breaking feat saw 14 houses built in just six days.
When approached, the proprietor of a hardware shop located next to the low- cost housing project said that there was currently nobody living in the houses.
The entrance to the project was fenced up and locked, with the compound filled with overgrown grass and some of the houses appeared to be only partly finished.
Among the organisat ions contributing to Borneo Blitz Build 2014 were Naim Holdings Bhd, Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, and Procter and Gamble Malaysia and Singapore.
It was reported in December 2014 that 20 volunteers from Naim Holdings Bhd braved the wet weather in a race against time to complete 14 houses under the project before Christmas that year.
Naim is the largest sponsor of the project with a contribution of RM400,000.
The 14 fami lies, who were scheduled to move in to these single-storey semi- detached units equipped with basic amenities once they were ready, are currently living in substandard conditions.
Each of Borneo Blitz Build’s homes measuring 600 square feet with three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom were built by the house owners and volunteers.
Habitat for Humanity Kuching was unavailable for comment at press time.