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RANAU: Four families in the Paginatan state constituency breathed a sigh of relief when each received the keys to their Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) homes.

The four were Azery Middie from Kg Lukapon, Rusinah Unggah Yusod (Kg Marakau), Muktijih Basri (Kg Libang) and Norfiqah Jahidin (Kg Libang).

The handing over of the keys was done by Paginatan Assemblyman Datuk Abidin Madingkir, who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister.

Azery, when met after the hand-over, said he was grateful for the assistance and expressed gratitude to the State Government for being concerned about the plight of the people.

Rusinah also thanked the State Government and Abidin for choosing her as one of the recipients.

“I am happy to have a new house after my old house was damaged due to flooding that hit the village a few years ago,” she said.

Muktijih and Norfiqah also expressed their gratitude to the State Government, especially Abidin, for their kindness in realising their dream of owning a more comfortable home.

Abidin said the GRS government is always concerned about the people who need help.

“Under the GRS Government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Nor, the SMJ housing programme is implemented to assist families in need, with as much as 20 units per year, starting from 2022.

“This is an initiative of the State Government to build houses for vulnerable groups, apart from PPRT housing assistance,” he said.

Abidin hoped all 60 SMJ houses that have been approved until 2024 can be completed according to schedule so that they can be handed over to the recipients as soon as possible.

The Sabah Government launched the Rumah Mesra SMJ programme on Sept 28 as an initiative to lift the people out of poverty and provide affordable housing for the B40 group.

Giving houses worth RM70,000 per unit to the people, Rumah Mesra SMJ uses the concept of Poor People’s Housing Project (PPRT) to help people below the poverty line in Sabah own a house for free.

Also present were Assistant District Officer Marcelus Joanes, Paginatan Community Development Leader (PPM) Hishamudin Harun, Special Officer Datuk Abidin Madingkir Juis Konsuling, CDO Jipili Sigal, Tanah Rata Mukim Developer Lasius Galipoi and others.