MALAYSIA SCORES A WINNER IN SOUTH AFRICA

MUKAH (Malaysia), July 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia may not have played in the
current World Cup 2010, but its popular Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) programme has
scored a winner in South Africa.

Rumah Mesra Rakyat programme (RMR) is developed to assist low income group
who owns a piece of land, such as fishermen, farmers and poverty stricken
families who are facing difficulties in obtaining house loan from financial
institutions.


The South African Government is impressed with the Malaysian Government's
programme of providing the low income group with suitable housing, and wants to
adopt the RMR or People-Friendly Houses programme.

State housing and urban development minister Abang Johari Tun Abang
Openg said:

"Everyone knows about South Africa, the nation hosting the immensely
popular World Cup 2010.

"But I am proud to reveal that it, in turn, it is full of admiration for our
RMR programme.

“Its government, in a recent communication with us, wants our assistance and
advice on how to implement it (programme) there after learning of our success
which we enjoy through smart collaboration of the Syarikat Perumahan Negara
Berhad and Housing Development Corporation,” he said.

Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Minister
Of Finance Inc is actively engaged in the effort to provide affordable and
comfortable homes for everyone especially for the low income group.

He was speaking before presenting house keys to 11 successful applicants
of the Dalat & Mukah RMR programme at Kampung Kuala Hilir Oya near here
Saturday.

Abang Johari said the Malaysian Government was probably the only government
which had come up with such a programme (RMR) for its people.

"It is the manifestation of a caring government...its seriousness in
providing the people, especially among those earning below RM1,500 (US$1=RM3.22)
per month, with proper shelter.

"The government even pays one-third of the cost of each house. The applicant
will pay the balance through installments to the government. The beauty of this
programme is that they will not be burdened with having to pay interest on their
loans,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the state government was going the extra mile to ensure
such houses would meet the requirement of its occupants.

“For instance, the RMR house measuring 450 sq ft in other states, has only
two rooms. In Sarawak, the RMR house is 700 sq ft and above, has three rooms,
two bathrooms, kitchen and spacious sitting room,” added Abang Johari.

"Thus, the daughters in the family can have their own bedroom to sleep,
study and so forth," he said.

-- BERNAMA