PUTRAJAYA: The Covid-19 pandemic has struck Hamidah Mohamad and her family hard.

       Due to the movement control order, her husband’s employer could only afford to pay him his basic salary and this had caused the family’s income to reduce drastically.

       “As a result, we could not afford to pay rent. We had to move to my family’s home where my siblings were too. It was the best solution for my husband, two children, and myself as we roughed it out,” said the housewife from Kuala Lumpur.

       But things are looking up for Hamidah and her family as she was offered a unit at PPR Lembah Subang.

       “When I heard about the Rumah Ikram offer, I applied for it because we can afford the RM124 monthly rent.

       “The Prime Minister’s announcement that the next six months is rental free is a great relief for us. The extra money in our pocket will come in handy,” she said.

       Hamidah received her house keys from Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the launch of the Rumah Ikram initiative yesterday.

       Another recipient of the initiative is Yusof Ahmad, 48, from Ulu Tiram, Johor, who has a disability.

       His family is fully dependent on his wife, Suzana Samsudain, a kuih seller

       “Because of the pandemic, our sales have been badly affected. It has become hard on our finances; rent money is difficult to come by,” he said.

       He said the Rumah Ikram at PPR Sungai Melala Phase 2 near Johor Baru is a great welcome to his family.

       Hamidah and Yusof were among the first 100 recipients of the Rumah Ikram initiative to help those affected by the pandemic.

       Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the plan is to introduce Liveable Malaysia to ensure quality living conditions, last-mile connectivity and good infrastructure such as Internet access.

       To monitor the living conditions at all PPRs, he said, a liveability index will be introduced.

       Reezal Merican also said under the 12th Malaysia Plan, about 80,000 housing units are being planned to benefit some 400,000 families.

       He said the adverse effects of the pandemic, including loss of employment and income, have prompted the ministry to find a solution to help those affected.

       As custodian of the country’s housing affairs, Reezal Merican said the ministry strives to ensure the housing needs of the people are looked after.

       “After all, home is where we build strength, dreams and success for the country. Home is also where the Malaysian family starts,” he said.