KUCHING: A father of three’s wish to have a new place called home finally came true when he had his house rebuilt under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing’s Urban Poverty Eradication Programme.
Rosli Keter, 59, who supports his family as a labourer, was truly happy and grateful to be selected and was in disbelief at the new house for his family.
Before this, the house was in bad shape and its entire structure considered unsafe.
Present to officiate at the handover ceremony of the newly constructed house to him was Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) Lo Khere Chiang.
There are two urban poverty eradication programmes carried out by MPP in 2022 namely the construction of new houses and the house repairs for the poor programme.
This Urban Poverty Eradication Programme seeks to eliminate poverty by providing a liveable home for the poor in order to improve the well-being of the poor.
“Our old house was dilapidated and I could not afford to repair or rebuild it as my wife and I are doing odd jobs to support the family,” said Rosli.
Meanwhile, Lo said the cost of rebuilding the 54 square metres (sqm) elevated 4 feet above the ground, which is equipped with three bedrooms, living room, toilet, kitchen, fans and lighting fixtures, was funded by the federal government and MPP.
“The construction started last July and was completed four months later.
“Besides building houses, the programme also helps to repair houses for the poor,” he said.
He added MPP has helped a total of 185 poor families within its jurisdiction to have their houses repaired since 2016 and this involved a total cost of nearly RM3 million.
“Last year alone, a total of 31 repair projects were completed with the cost of RM527,000. This assistance programme is still ongoing,” he said.
Lo, who is also the Batu Kitang assemblyman, called upon poor and hardcore poor families within the jurisdiction of MPP to register with e-Kasih.
“At the same time, community leaders and councillors are also to help to register all poor and hardcore poor families in the system so that it will be easy for them to obtain various assistances from the government through e-Kasih,” he said.
The e-Kasih database shows household sizes, its composition and income level.
Lo also encouraged all local councils in the state to be more proactive and responsible in helping poor people.
“Those registered under e-Kasih and categorised as poor are eligible to apply for this programme, whereby every approved house repair cost is capped at RM17,000, from RM15,000” he said.
The increase will help contractors deal with the issue of the increase in the cost of building materials.
The type of house repairs, Lo said, involved repairing the roofs, ceiling, walls, floors, doors, stairs and providing septic tanks.
Also present were MPP councillors Ahkim Sarok and Rabian Kipli as well as community leaders.
