Zaliha (right) and Fahmi (behind her) with some of the 17 families who received free flats in Lembah Pantai, Bandar Tun Razak, Batu, Setiawangsa, Seputeh and Wangsa Maju. — Photos: ART CHEN/The Star
After paying rent for her low-cost unit over a decade, a single mother is overjoyed when she discovers that the unit under the People’s Housing Programme (PPR) Kerinchi in Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur is now hers for free.
Norazizah Hamzah, 56, who has been struggling to make a living while raising four children, said the gift felt like a dream.
“I cannot express my happiness. I am incredibly grateful to receive this gift,” she said.
As a hawker at PPR Kerinchi selling laksa and nasi lemak, Norazizah earns between RM10 and RM40 a day.
“I rely on charities like Baitulmal to survive, hence this gift of a home is a godsend.”
Norazizah with a mock key that represents her home ownership.
Norazizah and 16 others from Kuala Lumpur were selected to receive units from various government housing schemes that they have been renting from Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) ongoing Baiti Jannati Project (PBJ) and Pelaksanaan Projek Mesra Rakyat (PMR).
PBJ and PMR are corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes initiated in 2007 to assist hardcore poor families in owning homes.
PBJ caters to Muslim recipients and utilises funds from TNB’s zakat (tithes) contribution, while PMR sees TNB financing homes for non-Muslims.
This government initiative encompasses repair works, renovations and purchase of new homes for the hardcore poor.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa presented the 17 families with mock keys during an event in PPR Kerinchi.
Zaliha said the candidates were primarily from the B40 group, including single mothers and disabled individuals.
“These families not only received their units for free. Some had free repairs done on their homes and some received free electrical appliances.
“I hope now with this gift, they can enjoy Ramadan and Hari Raya in comfort,” she said, highlighting TNB’s allocation of RM700,000 for zakat contributions and RM150,000 for its CSR programme this year.
Seventeen families from six parliamentary constituencies in the city – five from Lembah Pantai, four from Bandar Tun Razak, four from Batu, two from Setiawangsa and one each from Seputeh and Wangsa Maju —benefitted from this initiative.
From 2016 to March 2024, 347 PPR and public housing (PA) units under the Baiti Jannati@Wilayah Persekutuan and PMR programmes have been given.
Also at the event were TNB chief executive officer Datuk Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan, Kuala Lumpur City Hall executive director (Socio-Economy) Ismadi Sakirin and Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil.
