KOTA TINGGI: The Hardcore Poor Housing Programme (PPRT) has been rebranded as the Prosperous People's Housing Programme (PPRS), said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the move aims to change the public's perception and mindset towards the new concept of PPRS homes, which include larger living spaces.
Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the ministry aimed to change the perception of the occupants and their family members of these homes.
"PPRT homes that were initially 600 square feet (sq ft) in size will be increased to 680 sq ft under the new PPRS branding.
"The previous size was in line with the National Housing Policy, and we are increasing it to 680 sq ft while adhering to the standards and policies," he said during a press conference after officiating a programme retreat of the ministry at the Desaru Convention Centre here today.
He also said the "rent to own" concept introduced with the PPRS programme will reduce the burden on the occupants, eventually making them owners of the homes.
Zahid said he hoped the PPRS programme would be followed by other ministries involved in providing housing for people, especially the Housing and Local Government Ministry, state governments, state housing departments and local authorities.
PPRT was one of the government's rural poverty eradication programmes that provided assistance for the construction of new homes or home repairs for the poor and hardcore poor to have safe and comfortable housing. The move was aimed at ensuring assistance for the target groups.
The scope of PPRT was divided into two categories; new construction, for recipients who do not have a house or live in a dilapidated home, and repairs, involving assistance to repair the basic components of a house.
Zahid also said the national PPRT programme needed a renewal and should not just follow the National Housing Policy.
"We must make more comprehensive changes, not only in changing the mindset and needs of stakeholders involved but more importantly in protecting the buyers and occupants of these low-cost homes with the rebranding as PPRS," he said.
Zahid said the ministry had allocated RM460.4 million to build 3,000 new PPRS units and to repair 12,600 units this year.
He added through the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the ministry planned to build more PPRS units.
"There were over 10,000 units built during the 12th Malaysia Plan and now for the 13MP we are planning even more because we know costs can be reduced, especially the cost of land acquisition, and the cost of infrastructure for roads or access to housing areas can be shared with state governments, local authorities and government-linked companies," he said.