IPOH: Apply for Chinese new village loans instead of betting on the lottery, says Nga Kor Ming in jest while promoting the scheme meant for the traditional communities.
The Housing and Local Government Minister said about RM150mil has been earmarked for this scheme where loans can be taken out for house repairs and micro-enterprises.
Only RM13.5mil has been given out under the New Village Residents Special Loan scheme (PKBC), he told reporters here yesterday.
“Don’t bet on four-digit numbers; that one is difficult to win. I know they offer RM120mil, but chances are very slim, but applying for this special loan, there are higher chances to get it,” he said after visiting a newly constructed house for nonagenarian Liew Keow at the Rimba Panjang Chinese New Village here.
“This scheme is open, easy to apply for, and requires no deposit. You can easily get RM50,000 with an interest rate of 2.25%. But don’t misuse the funds, because there are some ‘smart people’ who do just that.
“Don’t just take RM50,000 and then do nothing with it, or put it in the bank to earn fixed deposit (FD) returns,” he added.
Nga said over the past two years, a total of RM13.5mil has been disbursed for micro businesses, adding that such enterprises would generate significant spillover effects for a village’s economy.
“Not only will it revitalise the economy in new village areas, but it will also contribute substantially to the nation’s growth,” he added.
On a separate matter, Nga said Liew’s family was among 21 low-income households nationwide who received new homes under the New Village People’s Madani Housing scheme.
The 21 had lived in houses that were unsafe to occupy and uneconomical to repair.
“A total of 282 houses nationwide were also repaired for low-income residents under the New Village House Repair Assistance programme,” he said.
Liew, 92, said Chinese New Year this year would be different and special, and she was so happy and grateful that she would be spending the festival in a comfortable and safe home.
“I had been staying in my old wooden house for the past 50 years. Over the years, the house began to crumble, and the roof was badly leaking.
“I am so happy that the kind minister and the Jalong assemblyman Loh Sze Yee looked into my plight and built me a new concrete house,” she said.
Liew lives in the house with two of her unmarried sons, aged 63 and 62. The new house has three bedrooms, a toilet and a kitchen.
“I have received food hampers and ang pow as well. This is definitely a very lucky Chinese New Year for me.
“We were living in a very dangerous condition, but I am glad that is all over now,” she added.
