YAN: Kedah Menteri Besar has reminded wealthy individuals in the state to stop competing with the less fortunate in applying for government land.
Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor stressed that wealthy individuals who already own land should purchase property on the open market.
"Do not compete with the poor in applying for government land, especially when they (the less fortunate) cannot afford to purchase land at market prices.
"Give them the opportunity to at least secure a plot for their families to shelter from the rain and heat. A person's life can change by owning land."
"We would no longer need to pay rent if we owned land, even if it's just a plot for a house," he said in his speech before presenting land titles and Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) for recipients in Yan district here yesterday.
On a related matter, Sanusi said the state government is taking steps to provide housing plots for those in need in every district within the state.
He said the 'Kampung Tersusun' project, known as Desa Sejahtera Development, aims to allocate house plots to the less fortunate.
"To date, several conditions and criteria have been set, and the locations for the Kampung Tersusun Desa Sejahtera projects in each district have been identified.
"The first Desa Sejahtera project will be launched in Kampung Perik, Padang Terap district, on Nov 20.
"For Padang Terap, the state government will allocate 100 land plots to eligible recipients," he said.
Sanusi added that the government is also providing the Mesra Rakyat Housing Scheme which offers aid to build homes for the less fortunate, on individually owned land.
He said the state government is committed to ensuring land ownership issues are resolved within a reasonable timeframe.
"However, I hope the public understands that matters related to land ownership involve several procedures, laws, and processes, which means completing the process of granting ownership will take quite some time," he said.