JOHOR BARU (Jan 13): The rural development ministry will build and repair 8,889 houses this year under the Hardcore Poor Housing Programme (PPRT) on a RM200 million allocation.

Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said 44,430 people would benefit from the programme which comprised the construction of 1,535 units of new houses and the repair of 7,354 old houses.

"As of Dec 15, 10,841 PPRT units were built and repaired exceeding the 10,550 units target, 817 units were new houses while 10,024 units were existing ones on a RM271 million allocation,"’ she told reporters after chairing a rural executive councillors and minister co-ordination meeting here today. 

Rina said, despite the lowering of allocation, the quality and size of the construction of the PPRT houses were not affected with the use of Industrialised Building System (IBS) and conventional method which simultaneously reduced the cost up to 18%.

She said there was a need to increase the building of new houses compared to repairing existing houses to avoid repeated applications for repairs.

"The meeting today also noted the improvement in the PPRT implementation procedures which included the updating of e-kasih data and PPRT recipients list to prevent unqualified people from benefiting,’’ she said.

In another development, Rina said the ministry would consider the proposal of the Johor government to create new traditional villages in Felda schemes in the state.

She said the proposal was to enable Village Community Management Council to be established in the new traditional villages.

Asked to comment on the role of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) which had allegedly deviated from the purpose of its setting up, Rina said the claim was not apt because under Pakatan Harapan numerous efforts were done to improve and bring back the role of the organisation on track.

At the same time, she said the selection of AIM’s new chairman Datuk Junaidah Kiting too was made based on qualification and not cronyism practises as alleged.