PADANG TERAP: The Kedah government has launched the Desa Sejahtera programme to assist poor families in owning housing plots at a nominal fee.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the state would expand the programme to all 12 districts soon.
"We have embarked on a programme to help poor families own land to build their own houses.
"From here, we will engage with the state zakat board, state-owned agencies, corporate bodies and federal agencies to help build homes for the recipients," he said after launching the programme for the Padang Terap district in Perik here today.
Present were state Water Supply, Water Resources and Public Works Committee chairman Mohamad Yusoff@Munir Zakaria and state secretary Datuk Seri Norizan Khazali.
Sanusi said each of the plots of between 3,000 and 4,000 sq ft would be sold to recipients who met the criteria set by the state government at a nominal fee.
He said the Desa Sejahtera housing schemes would be equipped with basic infrastructure.
Sanusi added that the state government planned to offer up to 100 plots in Padang Terap district in stages.
"We will provide sites for water and electricity infrastructure, community hall, surau and field."