Sabah to build 1,500 homes from RM126.5 mil special grant

KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah administration will build 1,500 new homes with the RM125.6 million special entitlement from Putrajaya.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said in a statement that the housing will be called Rumah Mesra SMJ (Sabah Maju Jaya) and distributed evenly in all 73 state constituencies.

Rumah Mesra SMJ is the new name for the Hardcore Poor People’s Housing Project (PPRT).

“This decision is in line with the state government’s Haja Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) initiative to ensure the well-being of the people and that they have access to affordable housing.

“Excess funds from the allocation will be used to repair roads, suspension bridges, and other infrastructures as well as properties damaged by floods,” he said.

Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Hajiji said in a joint statement that the federal government has agreed to increase the annual special grant for Sabah from RM26.7 million to RM125.6 million beginning this year.

Hajiji said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional state government is determined to get the 40% entitlement in the revenue sharing formula as agreed in the Malaysia Agreement 1963. – The Vibes, April 20, 2022