THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE. 3RD NOVEMBER: The government will build 10,200 units of Rumah Keluarga Malaysia Angkatan Tentera (RKMAT) homes and police quarters across the country under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said of the total, 8,852 of the RKMAT homes would be allocated to the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).
He said the government through the Defence Ministry is drafting the Housing Blueprint 2.0 with the main goal of building 28,033 comfortable and conducive RKMAT units from 2021 to 2030.
“At the moment, 1,509 of the RKMAT homes are under construction, while 7,343 others are in the procurement management process. Today’s launch of 2,000 units of RKMAT homes at Taman LTAT, Bukit Jalil has also fulfilled 85% of the needs of the military personnel in the Klang Valley.
“All the 2,000 units, with three rooms with an area of 850 square feet and fully furnished, were allocated for Army personnel of various ranks. They are also equipped with electrical appliances and there are leisure and social facilities such as a multi-purpose hall, gymnasium, surau and shops,” he said at the RKMAT launch today.
Ismail Sabri said 2,000 Army families will be able to move into their respective units by the end of next month.
Located in the Bukit Jalil area, there are four blocks of 38-storey apartments provided for the ATM officers until retirement.
“The houses were built by the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) through its subsidiary Perbadanan Perwira Harta Malaysia. The Defence Ministry bought the entire project because this is a new concept that we want to introduce, to buy instead of build.
“Previously, we used the concept of build. However, after the construction, there were many cases of the project being delayed or abandoned, making it hard for them to move,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said RKMAT’s initiative is also in line with the Prime Minister’s vision and aspirations in the context of the well-being of the Malaysian Family.
“It is to ensure every Malaysian and members of the ATM of various races, religions and backgrounds have conducive living facilities, in addition to enjoying the well-being of daily life without any worries while carrying out their duties for the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Budget 2022, Ismail Sabri said RM332.1 billion allocation for Budget 2022 cannot be reduced as it already took into account all aspects and the financial situation of the country as well as the people who are still struggling from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Finance Ministry will manage the country’s expenditure and finances well although the budget was the largest in the country’s history.
“Right now, the welfare of the people who have been struggling for a year or two as a result of the pandemic is very important,” he said. He was responding to Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who requested the government to review the 2022 Budget.
Dr Mahathir said there were many allocations in the budget that could be reduced so that the country’s debt burden could be lighter in the future.
Ismail Sabri also denied the opposition’s claim that Budget 2022 has hidden policies, including racism, behind the slogan of the Malaysian Family.
“This is an inclusive budget. The Finance Minister will explain in Parliament later,” he said.