KOTA KINABALU – Papar will see 120 Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) homes, a state-funded initiative launched by Sabah in September last year, being built.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof witnessed the symbolic handing over of a replica key by state Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong to Papar district officer Mohd Fuad @ Frederick Julianus Atik.
The session was held during an Aidilfitri open house hosted by Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali and Kawang assemblyman Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar at the SMK Pengalat hall in Papar today.
Rumah Mesra SMJ is a free housing programme for the poor, the only known initiative to date that has seen the state’s entitlement used directly to benefit the people of Sabah.
The state is using the RM126.5 million special grant obtained in 2022 to fund the housing project.
The Sabah government is targeting 1,500 units to be completed this year, with around 20 houses built in all 73 state constituencies. Twenty-two units are currently under construction.
At the event, Safar also presented a mock cheque of RM1.2 million for the construction of a synthetic track at the Papar Field.
Earlier in Kota Kinabalu, Hajiji joined Sabah Governor Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at the federal civil service Aidilfitri open house held at the State Federal Administrative Complex. – The Vibes, May 20, 2023
