RM2.3bil boost to build homes for civil servants

PETALING JAYA: Building more affordable homes for civil servants, particularly those in urban areas, should be a priority under the RM2.3bil allocation to cons­truct and maintain government quarters.

A government doctor based in Kedah, who declined to be named, said the shortage of quarters was a concern.

“Staff quarters are important, as they are usually located close to the hospitals where doctors work.

“This allows for quick access to work, especially when they are recalled for duty.

“When doctors work long hours, it is also convenient to drop by home briefly to check on their families.

“As such, we need more of these units,” he said.

While most Health Ministry quarters were in good, liveable condition, he said those in Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan often required more attention and main­tenance.

A Fire and Rescue Department officer based in Perak said building more quarters closer to fire stations would make it easier for firefighters to commute to work.

On maintenance, the officer, who wanted to be identified only as Zakaria, said the work usually involved replacing ageing electrical wiring and repainting worn-out buildings.

He added that most quarters were generally in satisfactory condition.

A schoolteacher, who wanted to be identified only as Selvi, said building more teachers’ quarters would help those transferred from smaller towns to cities to keep their living expenses down.

She also hoped more quarters would be built to make a career in the civil service, particularly the teaching profession, more attractive.

Sabah-based orthopaedic surgeon Dr Timothy Cheng said the allocation was timely but stressed that the funds should be distribu­ted evenly across the country.

He said the condition of Health Ministry quarters varied by location, with some in decent condition while others were run down.

On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced in Budget 2027 that the allocation would cover living quarters for various groups of civil servants, including doctors, police personnel, military personnel, teachers and firefighters.