KENINGAU PPRT MISSING TARGET - Jeffrey

KENINGAU (Sabah Malaysia): State Reform Party (STAR) wants the implementation of the Poorest People Housing Project (PPRT) in the district to be investigated for transparency and integrity to enable the people to see clearly if the project is meeting its target. 

   “What we can see now is that it appears to have veered way off its from its original objective of helping the poor. There are too many beneficiaries of the project who shouldn’t have qualified because they are not poor at all,” he said. “Many getting the houses are having permanent jobs, have nice cars, already have good houses and often have family relations with those who have the power to approve the applications for the houses.”

   Jeffrey believes that insiders are also in cahoots with contractors in the arrangement to approve and implement the housing constructions. “There is definitely something not right here,” he said to a group of reporters after making a survey of the problems faced by the people in Kg. Ria here. The people had previously complained to him for having been rejected from receiving the housing assistance.

   A resident who prefers to remain anonymous said he had applied for a housing assistance since five years ago but failed although his applications were processed. “They even have come to photograph my old house so many times,” he lamented.

Dr. Jeffrey looks at an old house of a Kg. Ria villager whose application for housing had been repeatedly rejected.

   Jeffrey said that the living condition of this applicant is in such a bad shape, and he clearly qualifies. “But unfortunately the government gives more priority to applicants who are well-to-do compared to those who are in dire need of decent housing,” he said. “I have been receiving a lot of complaints from many applicants and community leaders about this unfairness which is victimising the poor. The MACC clearly must come to Keningau and investigate the matter.”

   Jeffrey also visited the banks of the Liawan river which the villagers said were being eroded and affecting the stability of their houses.