Hajiji (right) with Dr Joachim (middle) and other Cabinet ministers and assistant ministers in his working visit to KKTP today.
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor has instructed the local authorities (PBT) in Sabah to monitor the People’s Housing Project (PPR) in their respective areas to ensure no abuse of the programme by recipients.
He said there have been cases where successful applicants of the programme have rented out their houses to others to make quick profits.
“Their actions showed that they do not need the houses thus denying others deserving such facilities. Hence, I want all PBTs to scrutinise all applications and to strictly monitor the implementation of the PPR programme in their areas.
“According to the agreement, those who get the houses under the PPR programme are not allowed to rent it out,” he said during his working visit to the Local Government and Housing Ministry (KKTP) at Wisma Innoprise, here, today.
The Chief Minister also disclosed that the State Government had applied for 5,000 PPR houses for Sabah next year.
“I have met with the Federal Housing and Local Government Minister (Nga Kor Ming) recently and requested that 5,000 PPR houses for Sabah be included in the Ministry’s budget for next year,” he said.
Hajiji also urged all PBTs to create more cleanliness awareness programmes in their respective areas.
He said that lack of awareness on cleanliness among the people was among the cause of the never-ending rubbish problems.
On the issue of squatter colonies raised during the briefing by the KKTP Permanent Secretary, Datuk Dr Jamili Nais, Hajiji said it was imperative that the PBT enforcement units nip the matter in the bud.
“If they see a few structures erected on state land in their areas, they should stop it. Do not wait until the problem becomes full-blown squatter settlements which will then cause further complications,” he said.
In his briefing, Dr Jamili said there were 281 squatter colonies in Sabah, the highest being in the State Capital, followed by Sandakan and Tawau, adding that three districts, namely Kota Belud, Tuaran, and Ranau have zero colonies.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also instructed the PBT officers to be more proactive and to conduct frequent inspections of public amenities such as drainage and street lights in order to provide the best services to the people.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister II cum Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said various approaches have been taken and implemented to ensure that all 25 PBTs, departments and agencies under the ministry move actively.
He said that three PBTs have municipal council status following the recent elevation of the Penampang District Council.
Dr Joachim said he had set emphasis on poverty eradication in the PBT administrative areas and taken swift actions to resolve squatter colonies issues.
“Resolving the squatter issues needs an integrated approach involving all relevant agencies in the state,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Ministers, State Secretary Datuk Seri Sr. Safar Untong and senior officials.
