Armed forces widow expresses profound gratitude upon receiving dream house
KOTA BELUD: Louisa Mamat, the widow of a soldier who perished in the line of duty, expressed profound gratitude as her decades-long wait for a new home came to an end.
For over 25 years, she had lived in her father-in-law’s house in Kampung Dabata Tambunan until the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) Department of Veteran Affairs (JHEV) granted her housing request, which she submitted last August.
“I needed a house after my husband Justin Jochim’s death at age 49 in 2011. Now, living in this house with my four children is the most precious gift from him,” she said after the recent handover ceremony officiated by JHEV director-general Major Gen Zambery Jeffery Darus.
Louisa’s journey was full of challenges. Despite applying for the government’s Program Perumahan Rakyat Termiskin (PPRT), she received no response.
However, with the ATM Veteran Housing Initiative Project, she has found newfound stability and peace of mind.
Attending a dialogue organised by JHEV in Kota Kinabalu early last year proved pivotal for Louisa.
Voicing her struggles there led to swift action and shortly after, her application for a house was approved, bringing profound relief and gratitude.
She expressed heartfelt thanks to the government and JHEV for providing her family with this newfound comfort.
Meanwhile, for retired army officer Thomas Kumong, 55, from Kampung Kipaku Tambunan, the journey towards securing a home was marked by persistence.
After numerous attempts, his application was finally successful, marking an end to years of discomfort living in a hut.
The transition to their new house brought immense relief and significant improvement in the living conditions for his wife, four children, and himself.
“I applied in February last year. Construction commenced in May and it was completed in August,” Thomas elaborated.
Last year, a total of 40 individuals were granted homes under the ATM Veteran Housing Initiative Project, with five beneficiaries from Sabah, highlighted Zambery.
“This year we aim to build 58 houses nationwide including eight in Sabah. The government has allocated about RM5.7 million for the project,” he said.
He said the project will be implemented with subsidy allocations under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) scheme regulated by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) amounting to RM20,000, and JHEV ATM housing assistance of RM65,000 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM75,000 for Sabah and Sarawak.
“We have made several changes in terms of house area size and construction cost...with these improvements, more houses can be built for the benefit of the armed forces retirees.
“I advise eligible people to register and apply under this programme. We at JHEV are committed to the welfare of ATM Veterans in the B40 group,” he added.—