Construction of PPR units to meet Batu Sapi constituents’ need

SANDAKAN: The construction the People’s Housing Projects (PPR) units and the home repair works carried out in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency are among efforts implemented by the government to meet the needs of the constituents.

Currently, there are two PPR housing projects in Batu Sapi, namely, PPR Taman Batu Sapi and PPR Lintas Sibuga, which have 180 and 500 units, respectively.

The PPR Taman Batu Sapi, costing RM31.25 million to be built, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on March 3 last year, and the rental rate has been reduced to RM170 from a previous rate of RM250, starting last month as announced by Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman.

Meanwhile, PPR Lintas Sibuga, featuring a different concept, has 500 housing units built, costing RM23.7 million with a monthly rate of RM145.

Recently, Musa has also announced the government’s plans to build another 2,000 units under the PPR scheme in stages in the Batu Sapi constituency.

For the residents of PPR Taman Batu Sapi, the project has given them the opportunity to live in a comfortable home with other facilities including community hall and its strategic location, next to the Batu Sapi Mosque.

One of the residents, Salim Kulah, 38, said with affordable rental rate of RM170 a month, he and his family were able to stay in a comfortable home equipped with the basic needs.

“Thanks to the BN-led government, the establishment of the PPR Taman Batu Sapi has benefit my family and we are very grateful to be here,” he said. Another resident Basri Abu Hapis, 35, said he never expected to be able to stay in a house completed with basic amenities and felt very fortunate to be given the opportunity to live in PPR Taman Batu Sapi, a beautiful and safe housing area.

In the meantime, for this year, a total of 78 houses of the eKasih recipients in the Batu Sapi constituency were selected for repair works under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, with a total allocation of RM1.17 million (RM15,000 per house).

The repair works, carried out by Giat Mara, involved houses in Kampung Bakau, Sundang Laut, Karamunting, Bokara, Gas, Tanah Merah, Lupak Meluas and Bambangan.

Additionally, a total of 100 dilapidated houses in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency were also repaired via a programme under the Sabah Federal Development Office and Prime Minister’s Department of Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU).

The houses, owned by the poor and hardcore poor registered under e-Kasih, involved 70 recipients in the Sekong state constituency and another 30 recipients in the Karamunting state constituency.

One of the recipients, Dalimah Arani, 35, said the repair work carried out on her house has helped her and her family to live more comfortably.

She said her house was in a sad state before as there were roof leakages, with damaged walls and floors and they could not afford to repair it due to financial constraints. - Bernama