By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Dec 18: Low income earners can now take up loan with Mutiara Mortgage and Credits Sdn Bhd to buy houses priced below RM120,000 developed by the State government with the lowest interest rate at only one per cent.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg disclosed that they can buy an affordable house even without deposit by taking up a loan with the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government-owned financial facility.
“I have discussed last week, where the B40 group can buy houses developed by the State government of below RM120,000 so they can own a home.
“This is one of the approaches of the government to help our people own houses legally,” he addressed the Kejiranan Mesra (KJM) gathering at State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here tonight.
Expressing concern on squatter problem, Abang Johari stressed that a policy using new approached to create a more structured housing and villages development including village expansion were crucial for a conducive living environment and wellbeing of the people.
“The new approaches to affordable housing and village development will include all basic infrastructure and facilities like utilities supply, roads and drainage which will be bore by the government, and with houses built on the land lots for people to own.
“The owners just have to pay for the cost of building the houses and they can take up loan from Mutiara Mortgage.
“If lots are given, there are possibility houses will not be built due to various difficulties and could lead to transfer of lots or it being abandoned,” he explained about the new policy to prevent these problems including people being scammed of the land lot.
As such, Abang Johari urged KJM to monitor their respective neighbourhoods and informed the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) if they come across any suspicious cases.
“Let us work together as a community to create a more structured neigbourhood and give priority to cleanliness.
“A clean area will reflect a community which comply with the law and have a sense of belonging,” he said while referring to Bandar Kemunyang in Sibu and Kampung Seberang Hilir in Petra Jaya which applied this new concept.
Other areas to use similar concept of development, he added, include Kampung Sungai Bedaun and behind Buntal, which will be done in stages until Telaga Air.
“The cost is big and it will be funded by the government but hopefully with more revenue in the future, we can give back to people with a better living environment,” he said.
Touching on village development in Kuching especially Petra Jaya areas, he revealed that new areas had been developed such as Kampung Rampangi Phase 1 to 5 which have been and will be implemented.
There were also expansion plans for Semariang Semerah Padi Phase 1 to 5, Semariang Pinggir, Matang Batu 10, Semariang Tanah Merah, Kampung Sejingkat, Kampung Buntal, and Muara Tebas.
“These are areas which are quite new in Petra Jaya under DBKU and still undergoing expansion.
“With village expansion, more village chieftains also needed to be appointed. Currently in Kuching, there are four Temenggong, 12 Pemanca, 90 Penghulu and 429 village chieftains.
“This year 27 more chieftains were appointed. We will continue to upgrade as Kuching city is now seeing rapid development with increasing population,” he added.
Later, Abang Johari also presented KJM Award as appreciation for the commitment shown by KJM DBKU throughout 2019.
Assistant Minister of Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and DBKU Mayor Datuk Junaidi Reduan were among those present. — DayakDaily
