KOTA KINABALU – Some 100 families have moved into their state-funded Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya homes since the initiative was launched last September.
Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim said the ministry received many applications for the free housing programme, adding that he hoped all 1,500 units in the initiative would be completed this year.
The state is using the RM126.5 million special grant obtained in 2022 to fund the housing project for the poor.
“We intend to have around 20 houses built in all 73 state constituencies. Twenty-two units are currently in the process or under construction. So we still have another 1,378 units to go.
“We have received many applications. There are about 500 applications in my constituency alone,” said the Tamparuli assemblyman.
He said this when met by reporters during his visit to one of the completed Rumah SMJ in Tamparuli in Tuaran here today.
The Rumah Mesra SMJ programme was unveiled by the state government in April 2022 and subsequently launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor on September 28, 2022.
The source of funds for Rumah Mesra SMJ derived from the revenue collected by the federal government from Sabah as stated under Article 112C of the federal constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which stipulates Sabah was entitled to 40% of its annual net revenue.
The federal government however has not decided on a new formula for the special grant.
The current formula is now subject to negotiation between Sabah and the federal government as also in accordance with Article 112D of the federal constitution.
Rumah Mesra SMJ is the only known initiative that has seen the state’s entitlement used directly to benefit the people of Sabah to date. – The Vibes, May 18, 2023
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