36,000 Homes For The Poor In Last Three Years

SEMPORNA (Sabah, Malaysia), April 20 (Bernama) -- The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has completed 36,000 houses for the poor in the last three years under the housing assistance programme nationwide, thus achieving its target for the period. Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said the total was part of 50,000 units for the rural poor which had been entrusted to the ministry to implement. Shafie was speaking to reporters after receiving keys for 10 houses built by the Malaysian Armed Forces under the Third National Blue Ocean Strategy in Manampilik Island, near here on Friday. The three-room houses were part of 30 similar units built by the armed forces in four locations in Semporna in two months. "The armed forces have completed five units in Bait Island, five in Pababak Island, 10 in Manampilik Island and 10 in Semporna mainland," he said. A recipient, Abdul Hamid Abdullah, 22, who now assumes the role as the head of his family following the death of his parents several years ago, said he was thankful to the government for looking into the hardship facing him and his seven siblings. Abdul Hamid, who works as a cleaner at Manampilik Primary School, said his father died in 2006, followed by his mother not long after. His four brothers and three sisters are still in school. Shafie also approved RM500,000 (US$162,972.62) in allocation to repair a bridge on the island. Meanwhile, Shafie said his ministry has approved RM94 million (US$30.64 million) to provide a 24-hour solar-based electricity supply in several schools in Semporna. -- BERNAMA